Pihl, D; Forman, M; Frandsen, A K; Nielsen, A K B and Primdahl, M B (2022) Digital infrastructures of facilities management: How data systems and work environments affect each other. In: Tutesigensi, A and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 38th Annual ARCOM Conference, 5-7 September 2022, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
Abstract
Introducing digital objects in facility management enables professionals to coordinate operation and management tasks. However, using digital objects is not a "neutral" matter. Instead, digital objects shift the distribution of responsibilities and create new ways of visualising professionals' work performance that create frustrations and discontent among the facility managers. Building on ethnographic fieldwork and inspiration from the Science and Technology Studies field, the study investigates a case concerning the operation and management of an office building in Copenhagen, Denmark. Findings show that the operation and management professionals get frustrated when the technical and digital systems of the building cannot solve the issues experienced by the building users. Limited access to systems obstructs the professionals in their work, and the systems create distance between the building and the means to solve the experienced problems. The study suggests paying more attention to digital systems' effects on professionals' mental health within facility management.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | digital infrastructure, facilities management, mental work environment, science and technology studies |
| Index terms: | work environment, data system, facilities management, Denmark, work performance, mental health, manager, science, office building |
| Subjects: | practitioner, computing systems, specialized education, construction type, operations management, Geography, management, health conditions and diseases |
| Topics: | Construction Technology, Roles and Professions, Project Management, Geographical Context, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Education, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
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