New FM framework provides best practice on more strategic decision making for facility managers globally

New Delhi, April 19, 2018 –RICS and the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) have jointly developed a new guidance, which sets out a more holistic approach to Facilities Management by providing strategic best practice for facility managers and practitioners around the world.

Facility management is a profession that encompasses multiple disciplines to ensure functionality of the built environment by integrating people, place, process and technology. RICS and IFMA have an existing collaboration to advance global knowledge sharing and cohesion within the FM community, expansion of the existing informational and networking infrastructure for members of both organisations, unification of the FM career path through both IFMA and RICS qualifications, incorporation of FM trends and best practices into a more comprehensive picture of the built environment, encouragement of young people to enter the FM sector, and assertion of FM’s strategic value to other businesses.

The new guidance developed by RICS and IFMA titled, “Strategic Facility Management Framework” was launched in Dubai today during the annual IFMA-RICS World Workplace Forum – Middle East. The framework is authored by Dave Wilson, FRICS, IFMA Fellow for the IFMA-RICS collaboration. The guideline talks about how facility management, as a discipline, is about much more than managing buildings and services. It is critical to how every organisation or property occupier functions successfully as a real estate investment.

“As organisations seek to innovate, adapt and refresh how they work, the demand for Facility Management services is growing globally and rapidly,” says RICS Chief Executive, Sean Tompkins. “FM services are driven not only by the changing nature of the economic environment or organisational imperatives but also by the rapid progress in technology, social aspirations, the environment and the political landscape. The new IFMA/RICS framework puts facility management at the heart of organisational objectives and creates a strategic approach that will enable facilities professionals to deliver their expertise globally to a consistent standard.”

Because FM is about more than managing property assets, it is crucial to achieving maximum value from workplace and environmental benefits that improve productivity and protect employees and consumers.

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The framework was jointly developed by RICS and IFMA with extensive global consultation among FM practitioners and industry leaders. It is also crucially aligned to existing standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ensuring that the framework conforms to ISO consistent definitions and well as global best practice.

“The ability to achieve a competitive advantage through strategic FM has driven the industry’s rapid evolution in recent decades,” says IFMA President and CEO Tony Keane. “The global FM community has coalesced as a result of unprecedented access to information, benchmarks and global standards, such as the new FM Management Systems Standard launched by ISO this week. As the engine of this community, the IFMA-RICS collaboration exists to provide the tools that allow FM professionals to lead strategic decision making.”

FM cannot be ring-fenced or limited to reflect operational activities. There are strong connections between FM and corporate real estate as well as asset management especially as it relates to property acquisition and disposal in both a strategic and operational sense. This framework sets out some of the key aspects of how and where facility managers can play a bigger, more valuable role in the corporate real estate decision-making process.

The landmark collaboration between IFMA and RICS is working to advance the global FM community by offering the most comprehensive catalogue of professional development and credentialing, available at www.fm.training. For more on the IFMA-RICS collaboration, please see: www.define.fm.

About IFMA
IFMA is the world’s largest and most widely recognized international association for facility management professionals, supporting 24,000 members in more than 100 countries. This diverse membership participates in focused component groups equipped to address their unique situations by region (136 chapters), industry (16 councils) and areas of interest (six communities). Together they manage more than 78 billion square feet of property and annually purchase more than US$526 billion in products and services. Formed in 1980, IFMA certifies professionals in facility management; conducts research; provides educational programs, content and resources; and produces World Workplace, the world’s largest series of facility management conferences and expositions. To join and follow IFMA’s social media outlets online, visit the association’s LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr pages. For more information, visit the IFMA press room or www.ifma.org.

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About RICS

RICS is a global professional body. We promote and enforce the highest professional qualification and standards in the development and management of land, real estate, construction and infrastructure. Our name promises the consistent delivery of standards – bringing confidence to the markets we serve. The work of our professionals creates a safer world: we are proud of our profession’s reputation and we guard it fiercely. See Global Media Contacts

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