Framework for sustainable facilities management practices in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.

Abstract

Sustainable Facilities Management is crucial in managing facility infrastructure and equipment. The eThekwini municipality suffers from an ageing infrastructure and poor urban management. The steady supply of Facilities Management services is important to reduce the downtime of employees and for the organization’s image as well as to ensure successful service delivery to the public. Sustainable Facility Management practices foster a culture of continuous improvement, drive innovation, adopt new technologies, and contribute to facilities' resilience and risk management. The study investigates current sustainable facilities management practices and examines existing challenges. The case study uses exploratory design and interpretivism paradigms to construct and generate meaning. The study adopted a qualitative research method to generate a new perspective on sustainable facilities management through in-depth Interviews. The target population comprises eThekwini Municipality employees who contribute to the sustainability of facilities management. The sample was selected through a judgemental sampling method. The study adopted thematic analysis and the findings categorized into themes. The findings project standard operating procedure “SOP” as a dominant theme in answering research questions. Findings show that sustainability practices emerge within the SOP and management strategies. The study uncovers benefits identification methods and key factors that drive SFM. Lack of awareness is a dominant barrier that influences the availability of funds, departmental coordination as well as the implementation of sustainability initiatives. eThekwini centralized building services to one department, however, the findings suggest prioritization of facility management structures throughout the units to improve coordination within the departments. The study recommends using computer systems to streamline the municipality's inventory tracking, budgeting, and asset management. The study encountered limitations in governance and ethical concerns.