PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand what factors best promote or prevent sustainable construction practices and establish the consistency of how sustainability is measured.Design/methodology/approachA literature review considered the impact of the industry to sustainability and identified what action and initiatives are already in place. Through this, the main drivers, barriers, measures and benchmarks were identified. The opinions of building surveying professionals were sought and analysed.FindingsThe paper suggested that fiscal incentives/penalties and regulations help to drive sustainable construction. Such financial implications are consistent with “affordability” being the biggest barrier highlighted. The majority of respondents believed the industry is taking some account of sustainability issues, but identified that more needs to be done.Originality/valueSustainable development is an integral part of the lives and affects all aspects of business operations. This paper provides an in‐depth insight into the level of sustainable development within the construction industry, identifying implications for both the demand and supply side.

While feedback is widely considered central to student learning, students across the higher education sector commonly report dissatisfaction with the feedback they receive. In contrast, academics often feel they provide quality and informative feedback. This article explores and compares the perceptions of students and academics with regard to feedback practice. The paper presents the results of questionnaire surveys conducted with academics and students at the School of the Built Environment, Liverpool John Moores University. It highlights the perceptions of academics and students with regard to preferences for different types of feedback, timeliness of feedback, students' engagement and interest in feedback, quality feedback and satisfaction with current practice. The findings indicate a significant discord between staff and students in relation to certain aspects of feedback practice, namely opinions on students' engagement and interest in feedback, satisfaction with current practice and feedback preference. Similarities in viewpoints were also found in relation to quality feedback.

Purpose -This paper aims to examine the impact of social networking in the workplace and to assess its use as an effective business tool. Design/methodology/approach -The paper examines positive and negative perceptions of social networking in the workplace and provides a critical review of literature in the area. The drivers of, and barriers to, change are explored, and whether the reasons for some organisations prohibiting or restricting social networking in the workplace are well-founded or corporate suicide. The link between social networking and organisational culture is examined, looking at whether social networking tools are capable of revitalising and reshaping the culture and brand of an organisation, which in turn can lead to better ways of working and increased levels of employee productivity and satisfaction. Findings -The findings indicate that the business advantages and benefits of social networking in the workplace are still very much underappreciated and undervalued. Although some organisations across the world have started to implement some of the facets of social networking technology and reap the business benefits, fear, resistance and risk are the opinions that still dominate many organisations. Originality/value -The value of social networking technology in the workplace is yet to be determined. This paper addresses gaps in the current literature and demonstrates that the business benefits of social networking far outweigh the negative perceptions that are still predominant in the pre-millennial generations. The paper highlights that social networking technology can facilitate improved workplace productivity by enhancing the communication and collaboration of employees which aids knowledge transfer and consequently makes organisations more agile. Moreover, social networking can provide enhanced levels of employee satisfaction by reducing the social isolation of teleworkers and making them feel part of organisational culture during long absences from the physical office.

Purpose -This paper aims to examine the state of knowledge of performance measurement in facilities management, in particular regarding the concepts underlying benchmarking in relation to its ability to drive innovation in the industry. Design/methodology/approach -An evaluation of the key issues surrounding performance measurement and the effective application of benchmarking systems are examined, exploring the possibility of applying a benchmarking technique to measure facilities performance. Findings -The paper suggests that a fully developed performance measurement solution via effective benchmarking can deliver as a business tool in facilities management (FM), whilst acting as a driver in the innovation process. Practical implications -With the nature of performance measurement having changed over the past few decades, the paper acts as a catalyst to how performance measurement systems and techniques operate within FM and stimulate innovation. Originality/value -By adopting the notion of innovation to performance measurement, the paper highlights new areas of thought to facilities management and how performance measurement is strategically applied to the industry.

PurposeA lack of effective and accessible customer performance measurement research is evident within the facilities management (FM) industry. The purpose of this paper is to enhance the level of performance measurement sophistication by developing the strategic application to measure customer satisfaction in FM.Design/methodology/approachThrough an extensive literature review, this paper researches the application of customer performance measurement in FM through a strategic management context.FindingsThe development of a customer performance measurement system (CPMS) for FM is introduced. The CPMS consists of four stages, combining quantitative benchmarking techniques with qualitative analysis in order to produce strategic objectives for business process improvement.Research limitations/implicationsThe CPMS framework is currently being tested. This paper should firstly be interpreted as an introduction to the theory and process behind the CPMS, whilst secondly in providing an update on the preliminary research findings from stage 1.Originality/valueThe level of sophistication of customer performance research within FM is limited. This paper aims to increase the accessibility and applicability of strategic customer performance measurement in FM to both FM customers and providers.

Please scroll down to view the document. Refer to the repository record for this item and our policy information available from the repository home page.User perceptions in workplace productivity and strategic FM delivery Matthew Tucker & Andrew Smith Liverpool John Moores University Structured AbstractPurpose: The paper explores the importance of user perceptions within an organisational context, and more specifically, how user perceptions are evidenced and positively applied within Facilities Management (FM).Design/methodology/approach: A conceptual approach is adopted suggesting that user perceptions should be viewed as a holistic process within FM planning and processes. Via comprehensive literature reviews the paper determines the importance of user perceptions, firstly, in the context of the user achieving productivity in the workplace as their input and functionalities within the physical environment can inevitably enhance their later experience, and secondly, in the context of the user later achieving customer satisfaction via strategic FM delivery. Findings:Argues that user perceptions in FM can be analysed through a twofold approach, (1) user perception through their input and functionalities in the workplace, and their consequent application of workplace productivity and (2) user perception through strategic FM delivery and the achievement of customer satisfaction.Identifies an intrinsic linkage between the two and how they are integral to the overall strategic FM process.Originality/value: Strategic FM delivery is now essential for business survival, where the impetus on ensuring high customer satisfaction coupled with high workplace productivity is illustrated via the "logical customer performance ladder" (LCPL). This paper provides an intriguing insight into how both of these crucial factors can be strategically implemented into FM delivery.

PurposeThe paper aims to look at the prevalence of facilities management (FM) companies having in place a sustainability policy, and to understand the link between a sustainability policy, company characteristics, and the application of sustainable business practice.Design/methodology/approachThe research method was a data analysis of 65 facilities management companies. Frequency analyses, multiple correspondence analyses and Pearson's χ2 tests were used to test the link between the company size, the presence of a sustainability policy and the implementation of sustainable business practice.FindingsThere is a link between company size and the likelihood of a sustainability policy being created in the FM industry. The research shows there is a link between the presence of a sustainability policy and the implementation of sustainable business practice.Research limitations/implicationsBecause of the method of data capture, there are no perception research areas, so the reasons behind companies' actions are not known. This can be developed in further research.Practical implicationsThe research shows the importance of a sustainability policy in forming commitment to sustainable business practice, as well as highlighting areas where the FM industry is lacking in commitment to sustainable business practice.Originality/valueThis paper fulfils an identified need to study the implications of a sustainability policy in the development of sustainable practice in the FM industry. It also develops the link between the characteristics of FM companies and the level of sustainable business practice implemented.

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