VALUE MANAGEMENT AND POST-OCCUPANCY EVALUATION: CLOSING THE LOOP

S. D. GREEN and G. W. MOSS

Department of Construction Management and Engineering, University of Reading, Whiteknights, PO Box 219, Reading, RG6 6AW, UK.

Abstract

This paper considers the relationship between value management and facilities management. The findings are particularly relevant to large client organisations who procure new buildings on a regular basis. It is argued that the maximum effectiveness of value management can only be achieved if it is used in conjunction with an ongoing commitment to post-occupancy evaluation. SMART value management is seen to provide the means of ensuring that an individual building design satisfies an organisation's strategic property needs. However, it is also necessary to recognise that an organisation's strategic property needs will continually be in a state of change, Consequently, economic and functional under-performance can only be avoided by a regular performance audit of existing property stock in accordance with changing requirements. Such a policy will ensure ongoing competitiveness through organisational learning. While post-occupancy evaluation represents an obvious additional service to be provided by value management consultants, it is vital that the necessary additional skills are required. Process management skills and social science research techniques are clearly important. However, there is also a need to improve mechanisms for data manipulation. Success can only be achieved if equal attention is given to issues of process, structure and content.