In Olusegun (2015), ‘Facilities’ is variously described as:
- those items that supports people in the organisation in their endeavours to achieve business goals and they are the tools which people in the business have at their disposal to carry out their respective tasks (Lewis and Marron, 1965; Muther & Hales, 1979:p.1; and McGregor & Then, 1999:p.15;
- a physical structure or installation, including related site works, serving one or more main purposes (International Organisation for Standardisation – ISO 9001, 1994).
- the constructed environment,e.g. buildings, structures, infrastructure, plant, and equipment (Kaiser, 1995, p.3-4; and Dictionary of Construction, 2014). Svensson (1998) defined building is defined as “a type of facility comprising partially or totally enclosed spaces and providing shelter”, which is a subset of facilities”; and
- buildings, equipment and services provided for a particular purpose; something that is built, installed or established to serve a purpose (Scott, 1999 and Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 2012).
Simply put, ‘facilities’ can be described as the built environment including infrastructures and services. According to Alexander (2003) in Olusegun (2015), facilities provide the base for business and play a role in attracting inward investment. The major future economic considerations with regards to facilities are their ability to adapt to changing business needs and new technologies; vis-à-vis the need to provide a healthy workplace for employees; and the judicious utilisation of scarce resources to maximum effect. In this regard, it could be inferred that the essential functions of facilities are for comfort, enjoyment and protection of the end-users as well as ensuring that the facilities’ economic useful life is achieved. Since the expectation of the end-users of these facilities is value for money, therefore, the facilities must be functioning at all times, a feat only achievable through good and efficient management programmes. Davies et al (1985) in Olusegun (p cit) opined that poor decisions about facilities can prevent an organisation from achieving its basic objectives among other things.
Reference
Olusegun, K. (2015). Critical examination of facilities management in housing: A study of housing estates in Lagos State, Nigeria. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the University of Bolton for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
