Capability challenges of facility management (FM) personnel toward sustainability agenda

Barriers to the implementation of energy-efficiency practices in the U.S. retail sector: facilities managers’ perceptions compared by facility size and business revenue

“…This was expected finding since a lack of funds for energy-efficiency systems and practices prevents their integration into retail facilities. Our finding confirms those of the previous studies (Elmualim et al, 2010;Halim et al, 2017;Hodges, 2005;Ikediashi et al, 2012;Støre-Valen and Buser, 2019) but contradicts the results of Medal et al (2021). Additionally, the respondents that managed small and large retail facilities agreed while those that managed medium-sized facilities neither agreed nor disagreed that time constraint was the barrier to implementing energy-efficiency practices.…”

“…They are expected to find creative solutions to FM problems but have very limited resources (Aishah Kamarazaly et al, 2013). FM practitioners' lack of professional skills, limited knowledge about sustainability and a lack of awareness of building whole-life value were the key challenges in fostering competency and implementing sustainability in FM (Elmualim et al, 2010;Halim et al, 2017;Hodges, 2005). Lack of skilled FM workforce, challenges related to attracting and retaining skilled FM workers and providing FM practitioners with the knowledge of the advanced technologies and the current legislation are additional challenges indicated by Aishah Kamarazaly et al (2013).…”

“…Furthermore, a lack of support from senior management and a lack of sustainabilityoriented leadership were identified as major barriers faced by facilities managers (Elmualim et al, 2010;Halim et al, 2017;Hodges, 2005;Medal et al, 2021). Particularly small and medium FM companies lacked competency in sustainability area and faced challenges when implementing sustainable strategies (Støre-Valen and Buser, 2019).…”

“…2.1.3 Organization-related barriers. Time constraints are one of the main organizational barriers faced by facilities managers (Elmualim et al, 2010;Halim et al, 2017;Hodges, 2005;Medal et al, 2021). Additionally, Støre-Valen and Buser (2019) indicated the following major organizational challenges including: a lack of market demand, unwillingness to invest in more expensive strategies, customer unawareness of long-term benefits, disagreement about sustainable goals in retrofit projects, manager's lack of capacity to act and make decisions related to sustainability, incompatibility between the sustainability goals and sustainable strategies that are actually possible to implement and a lack of stakeholder involvement.…”

“…A lack of funding for FM-related activities is another major obstacle to adoption of sustainability in FM (Elmualim et al, 2010;Halim et al, 2017;Hodges, 2005). Additionally, a lack of understanding of financial benefits, life-cycle concept and payback period is still an obstacle to the implementation of sustainable FM (Rock et al, 2019;Støre-Valen and Buser, 2019).…”