Category: Management & Leadership

I want off the FM system acronym wagon! What’s with all the 4 letter words – IWMS, CAFM, CMMS, IFMS and more!

FM Systems I’m getting more and more frustrated with the acronyms in use in our industry to deal with Facility Management computerized systems. Yes, I you read that right. I used a non-acronym to describe the other acronyms, and you know what, you probably knew exactly what I meant.

How about simply using a general yet descriptive term “FM systems” when we are talking about computer systems used in FM. No, I don’t mean the one from that company with the same name, I mean it in the truly generic sense: computerized systems that support FM functions. What else could be easier?

Posted by Michel Theriault Sep 11, 2011

1 Comment

The Hidden Cost of Corporate Real Estate Space – Infographic Visual

This graphic does a great job of simplifying the total cost of corporate office space (plus a few other costs) in a way that a written explanation simply can’t – with visualization.

If you’ve never heard of an Infographic, this is one of them.

It’s a very tall image so we’ve split it and provided just the top and bottom parts here to give you an idea. There are a few other statistics about office costs that very interesting on the missing middle part. Either double click the image to the left or click the More button below to see the full-sized graphic.

It’s difficult to print out, but do it anyway and use it to demonstrate the high value of what you do as a Facility Manager for your organization.

Posted by Michel Theriault Aug 17, 2011

0 Comments

Space and Occupancy Planning Tools – Do you have what you need to manage your space efficiently?

I recently had a chance to talk about space planning with David Spence from OfficeSpace at The Facilities Management Show in the UK where I was an invited speaker.

His experience confirmed my own observations – I see that for many companies, space planning in Facility Management hasn’t progressed much beyond the manual process I was using 20 years ago.

Very few Facility Managers and Office Managers seem to get the tools they need to properly manage and track space and occupancy. These tools are critical for a more efficient operation and more importantly, they are critical for collecting, analyzing and using information to make occupancy decisions that can save your company money. After all, the cost of space, whether you own it or lease it, is among the top expenses for most organizations.

Posted by Michel Theriault Jul 21, 2011

1 Comment

Hot Air Dryers Vs Hand Towels – the Great Debate

Every time I visit a washroom, it’s interesting to see whether they have paper towels or hand dryers. This is because I’m interested in the benefits and drawbacks of each as well as whether I’ll end up with dry hands when I’m done.

Personal preferences aside, there is a lot of debate about this issue and even a lot of somewhat conflicting research and studies.

It seems to come down to three different decision factors: Operational, Health & Safety and Environment. Each of these things may drive your decision and it may not be the same as your colleague. Making the best decision for your situation is the goal and we’ve compiled some information that will make your decision a little easier. The real problem is that it depends on what your goals are and what ‘research’ and opinions you listen to. And I haven’t seen one definitive source. I’ve included a list of resources at the end of this article.

Posted by Michel Theriault Jul 03, 2011

0 Comments

The Facility Management Pie – Scope and Responsibility

Facility Management Pie - Roles and Responsibilities

Unlike some professions, Facility Management encompasses many different roles and skills. Not everyone in the facility or property management profession are responsible for all of these roles. Some are responsible for specific functions as specialists, others are responsible for everything while some oversee all these roles through other specialists.

Regardless, it’s important to have a working knowledge of each one so you can effectively deal with your colleagues, manage staff or interface with external resources.

A pie-shaped diagram is the easiest way to represent the broad responsibilites in the Facility Management Profession since FM includes so many different skills and responsibilities.

(A larger version of the FM Pie is provided below along with a download link. A mouse pad is also available.)