The role of facilities management (maintenance) on office worker performance in Yaounde, Cameroon

This research systematically demonstrates that linkages exist between office maintenance, on the one hand, and office workers' satisfaction, comfort and health, and performance on the other. The research and its findings are intended to provide information to be used in the development of maintenance guidelines for managers and designers of office buildings in Yaounde, Cameroon and elsewhere. Survey data were collected from 792 office workers in 18 public and private office facilities using a standardized self-administered questionnaire. Additionally, data on workstation and office environments, including maintenance level, were collected by trained research assistants through observation, building records, and informal probes. Statistical procedures used to analyze the data included confirmatory factor analysis and covariance structural analysis. Among the findings, it was demonstrated that current maintenance policies in Yaounde are inadequate because maintenance was rated poorly by a large majority of office workers. The research showed that maintenance should be directed toward building services (i. e. restrooms, elevators,) and office equipment (i. e. typewriters, photocopiers,) rather than to interior and exterior building surfaces, as is presently the case. The study also showed that improvements in maintenance can increase the environmental satisfaction and improve the comfort and health of office workers of both the public and private sectors. With respect to the job performance, peer evaluations were found to be more useful than the current practice of supervisor evaluations. Finally, improved maintenance was found to promote better job performance on the part of employees in private sector buildings. Based on these findings, changes in maintenance policies are recommended. These changes include adopting a predictive maintenance approach in place of the current practice of preventive maintenance. It is also recommended that maintenance standards be developed and facilities management departments be created within organizations. It is further recommended that facilities management courses (including maintenance) be taught in Yaounde's institutions of higher learning. Finally, the local mass media should be used to educate the general public on the economies of good maintenance practices and facilities management research should be encouraged in Cameroon.