Rethinking Sustainability in Facilities and Workplace Management

✍ Scribed by Frans Melissen, Bert Smit, Vitalija Danivska, Andrew Ngawenja Mzembe

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2022
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 157
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book discusses sustainability within the facility management industry. However, it is not another anthology of so-called best practices and the seemingly endless range of certification schemes. It is also not a (marketing) guide on how to communicate high-pitched sustainability ambitions to potential customers to increase (short-term) market share.

Instead, this book is based on the realisation that most facility management businesses and departments actually find it hard to truly integrate sustainability into their strategies, tactics and day-to-day operations in a coherent way. It is also based on the reference point that sustainable development cannot be realised only through technological advancements and new procedures; it requires new behavioural patterns of people. Not only of your own employees, as a supplier or department, but also of those for whom you design, stage and manage optimal workplace experiences. Those patterns will not emerge from nowhere but need to be purposely created and cultivated, based on a thorough understanding of what people and organisations need, want and desire.

Through reviewing specific barriers and opportunities related to practical situations and examples at all three levels of facility management – the operational, tactical and strategic level – and supported by the latest theoretical insights, this book provides students and practitioners with inspiration and suggestions for using sustainability as a guideline for improving workplace experience concepts and FM strategies, services and processes. Each chapter uses specific cases and examples as the starting point for reflecting on avenues to move from treating sustainability as an add-on to using it as a powerful concept to create optimal workplace experiences. In doing so, these reflections provide lecturers, students and current and future professionals with practical guidelines and pointers to take sustainability within the facility management industry to a much-needed next level.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
List of figures
List of cases
Acknowledgements
Introduction
The rationale for this book
Set-up and style
1 Sustainability, Facilities and Workplace Management
Introduction
Sustainability and sustainable development
Sustainable development and the facilities and workplace management industry
The sustainability impact of this industry
The sustainability track record of this industry
Some worries that require our (immediate) attention
Reasons for not accepting this status quo
Summary
Food for thought
References
2 Technology and Behaviour
Introduction
The Big Five of sustainable facilities and workplace operations
Energy and greenhouse gas emissions
Building (materials, maintenance and furnishing)
Waste and pollution
Water
Food and drinks
The status quo again and how to challenge it
Summary
Food for thought
References
3 People and Sustainability
Introduction
Human behaviour and (un)sustainability
Human behaviour: a can of worms?
Our tragedy of the commons and our social dilemmas
Flintstones, meet the Flintstones
Stimulating and promoting sustainable behaviour
Learn from what we know to (not) be true
Mind the values
Combine approaches
Tap into our stone age brain
Shaping facilities and workplaces to favour sustainability
Summary
Food for thought
References
4 Identity and Sustainability
Introduction
End-users’ experiences, identities and values
Consumption and identity
Values
Your (sustainability) identity as a company or organisation
Understand your brand prism
Create a coherent sustainability brand/identity
A coherent and transparent message
Do not forget your own people!
Send the right message
Create your sustainability message together with staff
Summary
Food for thought
References
5 Local Stakeholders and Sustainability
Introduction
Why a local orientation is key
Concerted action: needed but not happening (yet)
Facilities and workplace management as a natural stakeholder
The local is your, your staff’s and your end-users’ context
The only way is (bottom-)up!
Communities and networks
A local orientation for sustainable facilities and workplace management
Some practical and telling examples
Summary
Food for thought
References
6 Sustainable Business Model Logic and Competencies
Introduction
Business model logic for sustainability
Sustainable business model logic
Sustainable facilities and workplace management business model logic
Competencies for sustainability
Your role as a facilities and workplace management professional
Sustainable facilities and workplace management competencies
Summary
Food for thought
References
Index