Openplan attributes and effective facilities management

Ilozor, B D and Ilozor, D B (2005) Openplan attributes and effective facilities management. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 3(1), pp. 1-11. ISSN 1726-0531

Abstract

Presented is a path analysis of causal connections between several openplan attributes and discrete effective facilities space management aspects of commercial offices in Sydney. The aim is to use quantitative estimates to demonstrate in structural equations the effect coefficients of the complex connections between selected openplan and effective facilities space management variables. Over one hundred openplan offices in the Sydney CBD were examined. Some openplan attributes were found to have direct impacts on several effective facilities space management variables, while others exhibited indirect effects through management control aspects. In most cases, management control reduced the effect coefficients. This paper concludes that, with dedicated management control, the impact of openplan on facilities space management may be less extensive. The implication of this result is for reengineering of work environments to consider aspects of management that invariably moderates and/or intervenes in the relationship of space, people and work process.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: openplan workspace management; path analysis
Index terms: commercial office, facilities management, indirect effect, workspace, path analysis, estimate, work environment
Subjects: financial and cost management, statistical analysis, management, analytical methods, construction type
Topics: Stakeholder Management, Construction Technology, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Organizational Design
Descriptive scope: 3 PCA

N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here