Gwimile, T A (2026) Holistic maintenance management for higher learning institution buildings in Tanzania. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 44(1), pp. 223-240. ISSN 2398-4708
Abstract
Purpose – There have been claims of inadequate maintenance practice in Tanzania's higher learning institutions (HLIs), primarily due to the traditional conventional approach where maintenance is only addressed during the usage stage. This study aimed to investigate whether universities and colleges are adopting a holistic approach to maintenance, where it is considered from the inception stage. Design/methodology/approach – Structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were employed to gather quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Through purposive sampling, 11 estate managers were selected, with eight of them responding to questionnaires. A comprehensive literature review was also conducted. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM SPSSTM) Version 20.0, while qualitative data were examined using Nvivo 12 Plus and in-depth analysis. Findings – The study revealed that, maintenance in HLIs is only marginally considered in a holistic manner. In cases where it is "considered, " this is often by default rather than by design. This has led to maintenance challenges, such as the accelerated deterioration of components, the incompatibility of new maintenance materials with the old ones and difficulties in adapting spaces to meet emerging user requirements. The most frequently occurring words in the word cloud, "considered" and "maintenance", underscore the necessity of adopting a holistic approach to maintenance management. Research limitations/implications – The study was confined to HLIs in the Dar es Salaam region. Practical implications – The findings from this study offer valuable insights for maintenance experts implementing holistic approaches in Tanzanian universities and colleges. Top management should focus on proper planning (including maintenance plans and budgets) and decision-making regarding maintenance management. Additionally, the Government of Tanzania may consider implementing policies requiring designing teams to adopt a holistic approach to maintenance before approving building permits. Originality/value – To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to examine whether universities and colleges consider maintenance from a holistic perspective.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | college; Dar es Salaam; holistic approach; maintenance management; university |
| Index terms: | default, holistic approach, deterioration, literature review, methodology, maintenance management, purposive sampling, interview, user requirement, top management, package, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, estate manager, decision-making, questionnaire, social science |
| Subjects: | research methods, maintenance engineering, Geography, data analysis and analytics, material degradation and durability, management, contractual arrangements, data collection methods, dispute resolution, decision analysis, practitioner, theoretical framing, business, user-centered design |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Construction Materials, Legal Issues, Research Practice, Risk Management, Procurement, Geographical Context, Organizational Design, Business Strategy, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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