Troje, D (2023) Path dependencies and sustainable facilities management: A study of housing companies in Sweden. Building Research & Information, 51(8), pp. 965-978. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
Facilities management (FM) of housing stocks has great potential to contribute to sustainable development, but the transition to sustainable facilities management (SFM) is complex and slow. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the challenges of transitioning to SFM for housing companies in Sweden in relation to practical and technical innovations like digitalization. Using a path dependency framework, and drawing on semi-structured interviews with 23 FM professionals, the findings reveal many technologies and practices that housing companies can adopt to transition towards SFM. However, their institutionalized path-dependent behaviour means they are unwilling to change, tend to avoid uncertainty, and overemphasize the financial bottom line. These new innovative solutions also present challenges, such as a lack of established business models and poor value for money. This study contributes insight into what path dependencies need to be broken, what behaviours need to be changed, what structures must be created, and what skills and knowledge must be developed to increase SFM in the housing sector.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | digitalization; housing; institutional logics; path dependency; sustainable facilities management |
| Index terms: | path dependency, facilities management, value-for-money, housing, institutional logic, interview, digitalization, drawing, sustainable development, housing stock, business model, Sweden |
| Subjects: | Geography, health safety and environment, evaluation, management, theoretical framing, industry analysis, data collection methods, construction type, strategic management, business, digital technology, technical documentation |
| Topics: | Construction Technology, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Value Management, Digital Applications, Design Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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