The role of facilities management in fighting COVID-19 outbreak: Evidence from Malaysian public hospitals

Abstract

The aim of this study is to provide a holistic review of the fight against COVID-19 in developing countries, particularly Malaysia. Specifically, the study aims to determine how facilities management delivery in public hospitals can be improved to ensure readiness in handling COVID-19 cases. We conducted a review of the literature and reliable media updates on COVID-19 and services management. A critical synthesis of COVID-19 information was conducted to scrutinise the technical aspects and highlight how facilities management can be improved to ensure hospital readiness in managing COVID-19 cases. The data and information used in the present study were collected up to the time of writing this paper, which leaves a room for further studies. Nonetheless, this study’s recommendations are useful for understanding the present and future pandemics. This study is a first attempt to summarise the data on facilities management in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Malaysian context. The study’s findings are suitable for the developing countries in managing healthcare management practices in the fight against COVID-19. This study aims to highlight current issues in order to provide a more objective assessment of facilities management to ensure hospital readiness in handling COVID-19 cases.

Enhancing FM digitalization strategies for shopping complexes amidst post-COVID-19: a case study analysis and improvement insights

“…The strategic plan must be prepared in the allocation and arrangement of manpower to ensure a smooth transition of work shifts and tasks. The COVID-19 pandemic presents opportunities for facilities management to implement change management, a critical aspect of organizational performance enhancement (Mehmood et al , 2023).…”

“…This is supported by Zhan et al (2023) that providing comprehensive training to individuals involved in digital FM has been acknowledged as an effective strategy to facilitate the adoption. Mehmood et al (2023) agreed that sufficient training and the provision of resources will enhance the effectiveness of facilities management personnel. Interviewee A believes that continuous trial and error as well as multiple troubleshooting tries could also be one of the strategies to identify the cause of any service failure.…”

“…The FM team set safety and hygiene as their utmost priority and subsequently carried out the necessary approach to meet the expectations of tenants and visitors. In addition, Mehmood et al (2023) highlighted that FM team should ensure the availability of essential hygiene supplies, such as running water and hand sanitizers, and convey clear instructions through means such as signage, automated screens and other resources. Interviewee B explained that the BAS system needed to be scheduled more frequently, due to the changes in systems or service operation time.…”

“…The interviewee further suggested that communication is also important to be developed between colleagues to overcome any challenges in enhancing the FM digitalization implementation at the premise. Additionally, Mehmood et al (2023) stated that FM team should establish a systematic approach for collaborating with a broader range of stakeholders. This includes ensuring that sub-stakeholders within FM, such as subcontractors, are kept informed about any alterations to the preferred service delivery.…”