Network service organisation: a multiple pilot study

Abstract

PurposeCentralised workplace and decentralised facilities management organisations combine several interacting functions. Different levels of a network service organisation are presented. The interacting functions are divided into three organisational levels: strategic clients, network integrators, and functional service units. The research paper demonstrates proposals, data collection plans, and relevant lines of questioning for future case studies and network analysis on the basis of the connections discovered in the pilot study environments.Design/methodology/approachStrategic, operational, and functional connections are analysed by studying formal and informal links between the managers responsible for various functions. The research was conducted with four pilot cases divided into four types of business units: a corporate headquarters (a financial services group); a large business unit/subsidiary (a telecommunications service provider); a medium business unit in the area of property management (a real estate investment company); and a small business unit (a technology park). The pilot cases function as a laboratory for the authors future case studies.FindingsThe article provides information how formal connections such as cross‐functional teams, task forces, and liaison roles create stronger ties between strategic planning and operational service delivery. The pilot study implies that without formal connections the functions of the network service organisation faces barriers to both vertical and horizontal interaction.Research limitations/implicationsRegardless of the popularity of the network analysis method, the conducted pilot cases and the found connections did not explain the whole value of centralised planning and strategic interaction between different workplace and service functions.Originality/valueThe network analysis takes place in a new facilities management environment. The article argues on a general level that post‐modernistic organisations, such as network, boundaryless, temporary, hybrid and virtual organisations, that are fragmented and managed informally can benefit from formal control mechanisms and meetings.

Supply network design in the residential-FM sector

“…Previous studies on supply chains and networks in the context of facility services have been mostly interested in outsourcing decisions (Ventovuori, 2007;Carr, 2011;Plane and Green, 2012) or characteristics, performance consequences and success factors of individual buyer -supplier relations (Lehtonen, 2006;Heimbürger and Dietrich, 2012). However, given the decisions to outsource, only a few studies have examined how the inter-organisational entities are designed and managed (Salonen, 2004;Tuomela and Salonen, 2005;Van Mossel and Van der Valk, F 32,11/12 2008;Blomé, 2010). Lacking prior research on supply network design in the context of FM the study aims to answer the following research question: RQ1.…”

Airport facilities management alliances: Problems of competition and complexity

“…For FM, the network organisation is composed of multiple clients and service providers supporting core business functions ( Tuomela and Salonen, 2005 ). The network alliance should not be affected by location, position or the service functions ( Tuomela and Salonen, 2005 ).…”

“…The network alliance should not be affected by location, position or the service functions ( Tuomela and Salonen, 2005 ). Changes in the past decade in AFM have in part been caused by the role of the government, deregulation, and also the increased use of network activities.…”

Supply chain collaboration: A triadic view

“…In the beginning of the research, a literature review is suggested to be generated to identify potential research questions. To uncover the operability of designed research construct, a pilot study is conducted to redefine the plan of data collection [7] which is confirmatory focus. And the results have contributed to the final decisions related to target industry and case criteria.…”