Project – An assessment of the role of estate surveyor and valuer in project management

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The growing concern for facility management in Nigeria has brought about increased complexity in the activities of business organizations as a result of the increase in the range of services required. It is this range of services that are required to change the structure of an organization, which brought about the latest innovation in management technique known as projects management. This resulted into separation of core business operations and process from management of non-core business activities. Projects provide space and means for organizational activities to perform, therefore it is not considered a core business of many organizations.

In recent times, there have been efforts made by the government of Nigeria to improve the state of the decaying infrastructural projects within the country. These efforts are revealed in the introduction of the Petroleum Trust Fund commonly known as ITF; having its major objectives aimed at improving the condition of National Projects which ranges from roads, hospital projects and Educational projects. In the same vein, private organizations like banks and oil producing firms in line with high competition in the industries and increased organizational complexity have implemented Facility Management in a bid to concentrate on the core business of their organizations. Non-core businesses are outsourced to specialist organizations possessing expertise in various aspects of FM. In line with this quest for efficiency and for improved environment, organizations demand for the services of facility managers for the management of their projects. As a result of this, facility management has become an interest area in Nigeria.

In line with the increased national interest in projects management, many professions in Nigeria have identified claimed to be facility managers. Estate Surveyors and Valuers have also laid claim to being facility managers in view of their nearest proximity to the profession of facility management.

In consideration of the claim by Estate Surveyors and Valuers this study aims to compare the background and areas of competency of the Estate Surveyors and Valuers and that of projects managers and to determine whether the preparation of the Estate Surveyor and Valuer is adequate to confirm his competence in facility management.

1. I STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Projects management seeks to deliver and sustain support services in quality environment to meet strategic needs of an organization. However, this end cannot be met without a competent means. Many professionals are quick to parade themselves as facility managers for he simple reason that their profession empowers them to manage property. One such profession in our society is the Estate Surveyor and Valuer.

It is, therefore, imperative to determine if these professionals (such as the

Estate Surveyor and Valuer) have sufficient background knowledge and skills that enable them to function efficiently as projects managers. The major problem of this work, therefore, is to determine the training and area of competence of Estate

Surveyors and Valuers compared with that of the facility managers to determine if reciprocity of competence claimed by the Estate Surveyors and Valuers substantiates their claims.

1.2 AIM AND 0B.JECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study is to determine whether the Estate Surveyor’s training as laid down in the National University’s Curriculum equips the Estate Surveyor and Valuer to practice the profession of projects management.

The objectives of the study are as follows:

1. To look at the core competencies of 17acilitiesManagement
2. To determine the training and background of the Facility Manager
3. To determine the training and background of the Estate Surveyor
4. To determine whether the training and background of the estate surveyor and

Valuer cover the core competencies of projects management.

5. To determine the areas where both professions differ or are similar and to find the best means, if any, to bridge the differences.

1.3   HYPOTHESIS

The hypotheses postulated in this study are as follows:

1. H₀: Estate Surveyors and Valuers have similar areas of emphasis, as facility managers, in the delivery of the facility functions

H₁: Estate Surveyors and Valuers do not have similar areas of emphasis, as facility managers, in the delivery of the facility functions

1. H₀: Estate Surveyors and Valuers have similar areas of core competence as facility managers

H₁: Estate Surveyors and Valuers do not have similar areas of core competence as facility managers

1.4 SCOPK OF ‘I’HE STUDY

For the purpose of this work, the scope has been limited to the issue of the role of the esstate Surveyor and Valuer in facility management in Enugu Urban. This study has been delimited to this area as it is known that the practice of the profession of estate Management is not different in other parts of the country.

Delimitation of a study is very essential in every research undertaking. It guides and directs the mind frame of the researcher in such a manner that aids in avoiding excesses and irrelevances.

1.5   JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

In recent times, there has been a growing interest in projects management globally and Nigeria in particular. Different professional have expressed interests in the issue of projects management and all of the professions, including Estate Surveyor and Valuers have claimed to be facility managers.

It would be unethical to allow persons not competent in specific professions to parade as professionals. It would be worse to allow such incompetent persons to practice such a profession or to carry out decisions that affect the public. To be allowed to practice a specific profession it should be shown that the professional in question has the prerequisite academic and practical training to practice. The quest to ascertain the claim of competence of the Estate Surveyor in the practice of projects management is sufficient justification for the present research.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

To comprehend this study it is necessary that we understand the meaning of solve basic terms used and they are listed and explained as follows.

– Facility

– Facility management

– Property/Estate management

Facility: The definition proffered by the Oxford Advanced Learner’s

Dictionary of Current English – 6th edition (2000:4 15) as buildings, services, equipment, etc. that are provided for particular purpose. The Longman

Dictionary of Contemporary English (2005:560) defined facility as a place or building used for particular activity or industry, or for providing a particular type of service e.g. sports facility. Alexander (1W 8 : 3 )expressed that projects include the space, environment, communications and services that enable the achievement 01key business objectives. They may be looked at in one or two different ways in any organization as property, the fixed assets that appear in the balance sheet, or as an administrative overhead, a business expense to be minimized. The above definitions are in line with the requirement of this study on the meaning of facility.

Facility Management: The center for projects management defined it as the process by which an organization delivers and sustains support services in a quality environment to meet strategic needs. Alexander (1998:2) has stated that projects management is the process by which an organization ensures that its buildings, systems and services support core operations and process as well as contribute to achieving its strategic objectives in changing conditions. It focuses resources on meeting user needs to support the key role of people in organizations, and strives to continuously improve quality, reduce risks and ensure value for money.

Duben and Sayce (1991:26) articulated that ‘projects management’ means the management of a building from an ‘end-user’s’ viewpoint. Hence a projects manager is concerned with the landlord and tenant relationship if the user is a lessce, but in particular with issues such as costs in use, services, and information technology provision. It was further stated that in comparison with the building or property manager, the projects manager is likely to require a greater expertise in technical building matters from the impact of design criteria to the control of costs-in-use. These definitions clarify this study’s target on the meaning of facility management.

Property Management: Thorncroft (1965:3) defined property management as “The direction and supervision of an interest in landed property with the aim of securing optimum return; this return need not always be in terms of social benefit, status, prestige, political power or some other goal or group of goals.”

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Policy Review of 1974 also defined property management as “All facets of the use, sale, purchase and letting of residential, commercial and industrial property and the management of Urban Estates; and advice to the client on planning.”

Project – An assessment of the role of estate surveyor and valuer in project management