Facilities Manager's Desk Reference, 3rd Edition

3Activities in Facilities Management

3.1 Introduction

FMs (facilities managers, or facilities management) are responsible for many diverse services and activities. FM involves the development, co‐ordination and management of non‐core, support services in a client organisation, together with the buildings, including their systems, plant, IT equipment, fittings and furniture, in such a way as to positively assist a client organisation in achieving its strategic objectives. The range of non‐core services will depend on the client organisation – its size, location, structure, culture, and economic and market sector.

3.2 Facilitation of services and information

Often the senior management of the client organisation does not understand the full scope and range of these responsibilities. FMs need to promote the concept that their role is not just a provider of services but also a strategic planner and provider of information to facilitate the efficient utilisation of resources in the running of a business. Although frequently labelled as non‐core, FM in reality is a critical service to a business, featuring in most organisations’ business continuity plan. The development of the services to support an organisation may involve setting up contracts, identifying potential improvements, delivering services, and managing change, key relationships and possible closure of services. These are shown in Figure 3.1.

3.3 Management functions

FM is a management function concerning three interrelated ...