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President's View
The end of the Chapter year brings the opportunity to review the achievements made during the year and to look forward to the next year.
At the beginning of the year the Board sat down to review our existing strategic plan and adjust this where required. This review retained the existing 4 goals: -
Support the FM Community, fostering vitality, momentum and impact
Anticipate and prioritize resources to effectively deliver products and services
Inspire passion for the FM profession, compelling practitioners to want to engage with the Chapter
Sustain financial integrity for the Chapter
We also retained the 9 objectives related to these goals: -
Goal I, Objective 1 – Provide effective networking opportunities
Goal I, Objective 2 – Offer targeted learning programs
Goal I, Objective 3 – Improve the stature and influence of the FM profession
Goal II, Objective 4 – Capture and share knowledge on FM
Goal II, Objective 5 – Anticipate trends and influence FM direction
Goal II, Objective 6 – Optimize the Chapters role in regional FM communities
Goal III, Objective 7 – Provide an infrastructure to support operational excellence
Goal III, Objective 8 – Foster a supportive volunteer environment
Goal IV, Objective 9 – Maintain a viable fiscal position.
During our strategy session a large number of ideas related to each of the areas of the strategic plan were generated and we have been able to progress a number of these. So what have we achieved?
Our meetings and events provide some of the best opportunities for FM professionals to get together and discuss the things that matter. Convivial breakfast and lunch meetings promote networking and bring people together, even if they are new to the scene. Our Christmas dinner this year was a social success with around 50 people attending, and the conference cocktail party and Happy Valley Race Night were also well attended.
The lunches, breakfasts and evening events organized during the year covered a range of topics including lift maintenance inspections, barrier-free access to buildings, future developments in Central, staff motivation and a review of the implementation of 25.5oC in air conditioned buildings for energy conservation. Together with site visits to the Shatin Olympic venue and the Bank of East Asia Tower, these events provided great learning occasions.
To promote the Chapter and IFMA credentials we held an IFMA induction morning and a CFM workshop to assist members to qualify for the CFM credential. We have also delivered talks to university students on FM and the benefits of IFMA membership.
Additionally the one day conference organized in November provided an in-depth look at the current practices of managing maintenance, whereas the two day Integrate conference held in June covered a diverse range of topics from asset management to leadership.
To develop influence in the wider FM community and to seek to provide direction in matters affecting FM, the Chapter has become a member of the Business Environment Council, and provided representation on bodies such as Quality Building Awards, the HK-BEAM Society and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Department of Building Service Advisory Committee. We have also this year submitted representation to the government on the mandatory building energy codes presenting the Chapter’s view of how this subject should be handled.
During the year we have held a number of discussions with other FM organizations such as RICS, HKIS and HKIFM. These discussions are progressing towards a more integrated approach to event management in the wider FM community. Wherever possible we will work with these and similar organizations to bring you a wider choice of events.
With the move of our virtual office to an accommodation address in the Leighton Centre, we have taken on a small cupboard to store some physical things associated with the Chapter. In addition we have initiated a secure web site file store to maintain an electronic record of Chapter affairs. We hope to use this to build up an electronic record of current and past information about the Chapter. This is all part of our efforts to build an infrastructure to support operational excellence.
Finally I can talk about the financial status of the Chapter. Our aim at the beginning of the year was to develop opportunities for sponsorship covering all activities during the year. Unfortunately the work required for the Integrate conference pushed us off track and we decided to concentrate on developing sponsorship specifically for the conference. In this, the preparation for wider sponsorship stood us in good stead and we were able to approach more companies than in the past to seek sponsorship. This and the current economic climate has helped to boost the income from sponsorship and, when combine with the sponsorship in kind from Hong Kong Exhibition Services Ltd., we were able to transfer a considerable surplus from the conference to the Chapter funds. We have therefore boosted our current account over the year and we go in to the new Chapter year with a considerably improved financial position.
Having discussed what we achieved it is only reasonable to look at the areas we did not achieve the things we had hoped for.
I think the key area where achievement has been behind our desires has been in developing more volunteers to assist the Chapter and in providing an environment where volunteers can use their skills to progress the Chapter. We recognize that this is a major brake on the ability for the Chapter to progress.
When I accepted the position of president last year I said I was interested in a two year term precisely because I could see that it is only after the first year that you get an idea of what is going wrong. By taking on two years as president I have an opportunity to make changes in this area that will hopefully benefit the Chapter in the longer term.
Yesterday I watched a short video on the Internet of Clay Shirky giving a talk to the Web 2.0 conference on April 23rd this year. Clay Shirky is a consultant, writer and adjunct professor in NYU's graduate Interactive Telecommunications Program and you can watch the video of his talk at this link or read a slightly edited transcript at this link.
His theme was about the free time that has been made available to mankind generally due to changing work patterns, and how this has been soaked up, in later years at least, by television. His point is that television has masked the ability of people in general to think for themselves, as it is a one-directional consumer medium. In fact this was probably a good thing as people with free time on their hands but nothing to do could potentially break society as a whole.
Within the last few years the Internet and in particular social computing have erupted and people have found that yes they do like to consume, but they also like to produce and they also like to share. This is bringing out the cognitive surplus previously masked by television and allowing people to create communities in cyberspace that achieve something, witness Wikipedia and other open-source projects. Whether that “something” is of benefit or not is immaterial. We are in the phase of discovery and this tends to be chaotic.
In Clay Shirky’s words “We're going to look at every place that a reader or a listener or a viewer or a user has been locked out, has been served up passive or a fixed or a canned experience, and ask ourselves, "If we carve out a little bit of the cognitive surplus and deploy it here, could we make a good thing happen?"
Why am I telling you this? Well… IFMA is a community. It may be more physical than virtual, more locally based that cyberspace, but if we can carve out a bit of the cognitive surplus of people who have an interest in FM, can we make something good happen within the FM community?
Looking forward to working with you in the new Chapter year.
The Hong Kong chapter of the International Facility Management Association IFMA wrapped up the latest successful Integrate conference at a gala dinner held at Hong Kong’s Happy Valley racecourse. It was a fitting finale to an event that had brought the thoroughbreds of the region’s Facility Management community together for two days of illuminating and motivation presentations and discussion.
For the first time, Integrate was held in conjunction with the Four-in-One show at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The setting, adjacent to booths showcasing the latest building technologies, electrical gizmos and security devices, added a new dimension to the two day programme.
Opening up the event, and speaking at Integrate for the second time was Steve Sonsino, Fellow, CMD, London Business School and author of “The Seven Failings of Bad Leaders.” Sonsino is known for his refreshing style of presentation, which helped bring home the need for facility managers to consider and improve their leadership skills. The next speaker, Cissy Tsang, Asset Manager, Link REIT, has certainly sharpened her leadership abilities in her role, steering former government controlled commercial properties to a more business minded approach. She highlighted the importance of a comprehensive asset management plan when transforming large portfolios.
Nigel Smith, Executive Director – Office Services (Greater China), CBRE, then put some sense into the sustainability argument in his presentation, which argued that environmentally aware development is the only way forward. Facility Managers have a key role to play in building performance, environmental and otherwise and coping with a changing market is a huge challenge. Dr. Oscar Chan, Director, Facility Management Development Centre, Macau Management Association, shared his experience of this is the exploding markets of Asia’s gaming capital.
Delving deeper into the FM role was the next presentation, by Nelson Lee, General Manager, Planning & Services, Asia Airfreight Terminal. His facility is one of Asia’s largest, comprising 161,000 sq.m. of office, warehousing and secure storage. Expanding fivefold between 1998 and 2006, while maintaining 24-hour a day operation, required a collaborative and highly focused approach to solving Facility Management issues.
Closing day one was a stark and moving presentation on the experiences of Michael Turley, President, Leadership Spectrum Consulting, during the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans. As a US Air Force Air Mobility Officer, Turley was responsible for coordinating military and civilian operations during the evacuation of Louis Armstrong International Airport, a role that required immediate, literally life-or-death decision making.
Day two saw an early start, with many delegates fragile following the official IFMA conference cocktail the night before. Kevin Sauer, Asia Regional Workplace Manager, Microsoft, was first to the podium, with an enlightening look at how one of the world’s largest corporations is using workplace strategy to enhance performance. Mahmud Ajeigbe and Collins Osayamwen, of Nineties Ventures then outlined how facilities management is evolving in Nigeria, and revolutionizing the approach towards managing both public and private buildings.
“Leadership is the ability to lead,” according to Catherine Doherty, Consultant and Author. Her presentation, however, was anything but obvious, challenging the audience to examine their own approach to leadership and leaving many with the motivation to improve themselves. Improving was also the topic of the final knowledge session, albeit area of energy management in Hong Kong. Mak Kan Chun, Senior Engineer / Energy Efficiency, EMSD, HKSAR Government outlined the results of the consultation on the proposed mandatory implementation of building energy codes.
The final evening of Integrate 2008 saw one of the highlights. A presentation and dinner at The Hong Kong Jockey Club, where delegates were treated to an outline of the Olympic Equestrian Venues. The occasion also marked the first Thursday races in the history of mid-week racing, an auspicious event for some IFMA Hong Chapter members who left the evening significantly up on the night.
Ashford Prichard
Editor, RFP Magazine
New Honorary Secretary Joins Chapter Board
Jenny Yeung was elected to the position of Secretary of the Hong Kong Chapter of IFMA, subject to Board approval in June 2008.
Jenny had participated in the Professional Development Committee (PDC) since 2007. Currently Jenny is a Senior Facilities Manager with Jones Lang LaSalle Limited assigned to Citibank as account manager to oversee the entire portfolio in Hong Kong of around 900,000 sq.ft.. Prior to that, she held property and facility management roles with major developers for 14 years.
Apart from a board range of FM functions, Jenny has rolled out a series of sustainability programmes in Citibank including Project Candlelight and the Save-The-Earth Recycling Programme. Such best practices from Hong Kong have been introduced to other Citibank portfolios in Asia Pacific and achievements recognized by local governments and industry.
Deric Probst-Wallace
Vice President & Director of Communications
The Hong Kong Chapter of IFMA hk-ifma.communicate@ifma.org.hk
Hong Kong Chapter Launch FMP
IFMA Launches First Professional Programme in Hong Kong
The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) will launch the Facility Management Professional (FMP) diploma level qualification in September. This will be the first time such a professional qualification has been launched in Hong Kong.
FMP is a knowledge-based credential demonstrating a proven comprehension of the basics of facility management. A springboard for obtaining full Certified Facility Manager (CFM) certification, the FMP designation will help to accelerate a Facility Manager’s transition into the profession.
FMP is an internationally recognized credential with acceptance in many countries around the world, including the PRC. For the first time courses for the FMP are now available through the Hong Kong Chapter of IFMA.
Who Should Attend?
The FMP qualification is designed for:
Facility management practitioners with less than five years of experience
Transitioning professionals with significant experience in former related careers
Partner practitioners such as architects, designers and safety engineers
Associated corporate providers of FM products and services
Students entering the profession from colleges, universities, certificate or technical programs
Benefits of the FMP Qualification
By completing the qualification candidates will:
Be entitled to carry the ‘FMP’ post nominals, demonstrating their commitment to the FM industry and their professionalism as Facility Managers
Have gained expert knowledge in the fundamentals of Facility Management
Have gained accreditation of 4 of the 9 competencies of CFM, the Worlds most widely recognised FM accolade
Built a network of like minded FM professionals
Expert Tuition
The course will be delivered by two highly regarded FM gurus of international reputation. Course Leader will be Kit Tuveson, a Certified Facility Manager who has served as IFMA Chairman (1997-1998). He is current President of the FM Consultant’s Council of IFMA and Chairman of the IFMA China Advisory Team. He will be assisted by Professor John Gilleard, IFMA Fellow. He was formerly Associate Dean of the Faculty of Construction & Land Use and Head of the Department of Building Services Engineering at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Deric Probst-Wallace
Vice President & Director of Communications
The Hong Kong Chapter of IFMA hk-ifma.communicate@ifma.org.hk
Green Washing and the Value of Independent Labeling
The growing demand for more environmentally preferable products and services has pushed manufacturers to find cost effective ways to improve the environmental performance of their offerings. As a result we are seeing, safer cleaning products, computers, copiers, etc. Unfortunately not all manufacturers have made investments necessary to complete in a more environmentally conscious market but some manufacturers have resorted to creative advertising and to a new term called ‘green washing’.
Green washing is the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental preferable practices or features of a product or service. With this practice appearing to be growing the challenge for professional purchasers and other supply chain managers is determining which environmental claims are meaningful and real.
Rising to this challenge is a growing number of environmental independent standards including Energy Star, Greenseal, and the Forest Stewardships Council which are pathfinders in an often complex and confusing decision making process.
ISO 14000 is the series of environmental assessment methods developed by the International Organization for Standardization, covering systems for environmental management, certification, and eco-labeling. The series defines three types of eco-labels. Type 1 labels (ISO 14024) are arguably the most valuable (for both producer and consumer) as they denote selective, multi-criteria based, third-party certified endorsement of a product. Type 3 labels (ISO 14025) provide quantified but non-selective product information based on independent verification against established benchmarks. Less valuable are Type 2 labels (ISO 14021), which are self-declared claims.
Appreciating the relative merit of different labels will enable you to maximize the environmental benefit of your procurement decisions. For information about ISO 14000 go to www.iso.org. For more on eco-labeling go to www.gen.gr.jp, or www.eco-labels.org.
Peter Young
Head of Technical Services, Hongkong Land Ltd
EMFC 2008
This year the European Facility Management Conference was themed - Facility Management "On the Way to the Board"
FM has to become part of corporate strategy in order to meet economic and ecological demands. This was the main outcome of the European Facility Management Conference held earlier this month in Manchester, U.K. More than 400 delegates from 30 countries discussed international FM strategies, sustainability, education and change management.
Peter Cordy, Chairman of the British Institute of FM said, "FM has a key role in the development of a sustainable society." Echoed by Steve Gladwin, Chairman of Global FM, sustainability is regarded as a key issue with the FM business playing a crucial part in educating people in what sustainability can do. In a panel discussion on similarities and differences in FM worldwide, panel members including Alan White, the Chairman of the RICS FM faculty board, reflected on the lack of understanding and recognition of FM. They pointed to the importance of communications to illustrate the benefits of FM, how FM has to gain credibility by showing clearly the added value and its contribution to the company success.
Deric Probst-Wallace
Vice President & Director of Communications
The Hong Kong Chapter of IFMA hk-ifma.communicate@ifma.org.hk
Servicing Clients
The Facilities Managers’ role is to serve clients and customers – either directly or indirectly. However, they are also clients themselves. They manage outsourced and supply contracts, but their input into the whole construction, refurbishment and churn process is also critical. At the recent RIBA annual conference in Dublin entitled ‘Good Clients=Good Buildings’, it became increasingly clear that the industry needs intelligent clients, and that FMs are central to this.
For ‘Good Buildings’ read ‘Good Places’, so that organisational as well as physical factors are included. Good places – places that look and feel good, work well over time, and come in on programme and budget – only happen where there is a special relationship between the client and the building design team. However, too often FMs are brought in too late. The project is on site, or nearly complete, and has been designed with minimal consideration for life-in-use. The client has perhaps been the Finance Director, with neither much knowledge nor much interest in the project, and little understanding of the value of careful design.
Good design does have hard value. We all know this, and increasingly data is backing it up. Studies into environmental issues show that - for instance - staff take less sick leave when air is of a high quality. Now a study from CABE (the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.) claims that well designed buildings have a better ‘exchange’ value – selling or re-letting at a higher price than more ordinary property. Good design pays, and is not necessarily more expensive, but it does need comprehensive input at the right level and at the right time from an intelligent client.
Getting property matters onto the Board Room agenda has long been a concern. However now, with the increasing complexity of contract and ownership processes, it becomes essential. Board members must understand the financial impact of their property, in both adding value and reducing costs. Facilities Managers must develop the confidence, knowledge and skills to demand a place at the Board Table, or at least clear route to it. At one level they need to become like the ceiling contractor at a Safeway Store who when asked what his job was, answered: “To put more stuff in the customers’ baskets”. At another they need to communicate better all round, with management and staff, with suppliers and contractors, and with the building design, construction and supply teams.
Since my student days, I have been concerned about the lack of understanding between architects and their clients: clients not getting what they need, and architects not being able to give of their best. Now, however, I am concerned that Facilities Managers become star clients.
As star clients, they will not just know their stuff, they will communicate well. They will ensure that, as part of the client team in construction or refurbishment projects, they are in at the beginning, with enough resources to do the job properly. They will enjoy the creative process, and appreciate that solutions may be unexpected. They will feed in briefing information comprehensively, and at the right time – knowing when decisions can be ‘just-in-time’. They will be brave as well as diligent, and imaginative yet tough.
Facilities Managers are used to acting as clients for contracted services, and a design project isn’t that different, just much more complex (and expensive). A spirit of partnering pays dividends, with problems being resolved to everyone’s reasonable satisfaction. All parties must know what everyone else is doing, so that ‘seamless-ness’ is a reality.
Knowing the subject is key to efficient management, as is effective communication.
Client communication is an area that needs improving. This is certainly the case with architects, and perhaps for FMs too. With Alastair Blyth (who wrote Managing the Brief for Better Design), I now offer workshops on client communication to mid-range architectural staff. We are discussing whether others would benefit – FMs as well as other members of the building design and construction teams. We would like your input, so if any of you kind readers have thoughts, or would like to know more, do e-mail. It would be great if together we could improve our skills so that we obtain more ‘good places’ for ourselves, and for those we work for and with.
Santa Raymond RIBA
Principla, Santa Raymond Consultants
Pickard's View
I am a sad individual. At least, so I’ve been told. In the midst of one of my chardonnay inspired rantings about business infrastructure, customer service, workplace design etc. I looked at the faces of the people I was enlightening with my wisdom and saw, written across every one, the magic words “Get a life!”
I’ve always been a bit of an obsessive – about relationships, hobbies, the latest gadget, Watford Football Club - but the most enduring of all passions has been my fascination with the profession formerly known as Facilities Management. For nearly 30 years, with an endless stream of different job titles, I have been involved with and obsessed by the ability to achieve great things by doing FM well.
It’s terrific to get paid for doing what you enjoy but I do confess to spending an awful lot of my personal time on my obsession too. Involvement with IFMA and BIFM, speaking at conferences, even using annual holiday time to visit “interesting buildings”.
But so what? I heard a great quote recently about nobody ever hearing of a great heart surgeon who wasn’t obsessed by hearts or a great painter who wasn’t obsessed by his art. Not that being obsessed means you are necessarily great but it helps.
I spent some of my holiday time this summer acting as a judge for the BIFM Excellence awards which was a real privilege. It allowed me to indulge my own passion for snooping round other peoples’ facilities but the best part was meeting some terrific, equally obsessed, people.
Suppliers and occupiers alike everywhere we went showed real enthusiasm and pride in what they were achieving together. I came away from every visit filled with hope for the future and a notebook crammed with good ideas.
Even more impressive was the way that enthusiasm had carried on through the delivery teams. Obsession must be infectious. We met cleaners and security guards who had caught the bug and were displaying the symptoms for all to see.
So if people call you sad, ignore them. You don’t need to get a life, you’ve got one. Having fun by indulging your obsession isn’t only self indulgent. It can be energising too, for you and the people around you.
Martin Pickard
Principle, The FMGuru
Award of the Hong Kong Chapter IFMA Scholarship
This year applications for the scholarship awards made by the Hong Kong Chapter of IFMA came from the Hong Kong University School of Professional and Continuing Education (Post-Graduate), The Hong Kong University Department of Real Estate and Construction (Post-Graduate); the City University of Hong Kong SCOPE (Undergraduate) and the Institute of Vocational Education Department of Real Estate and Facilities Management (Undergraduate).
Following a review of the documentation submitted by the education establishment, interviews were set up with all candidates. The result of the desk review and the interviews were: -
Post-Graduate Award
– Mr. Chan Kin Ming
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The Hong Kong University Department of Real Estate and Construction
Undergraduate Award
– Ms. Suen Ka Yee
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Institute of Vocational Education Department of Real Estate and Facilities Management
Mr. Chan Kin Ming achieved a good academic result, especially in real estate investment, finance and FM. His tutor identified him as very attentive in class and productive during a presentation project in the FM module. The interview showed he had a mature understanding of FM, although he was unsure if he would continue his career in this field.
Ms. Suen Ka Yee was one of the top students in her class and was noted as being helpful to her classmates and a leader of campus activities, including being the MC for the student award reception in 2007. She has a good academic record achieving an average score of over 80%. She has a clear understanding of FM and believes this has particular importance in maintaining the safety and usability of a building. Her career goal is to become a professional building inspector.
Each finalist is awarded a certificate signed by the Chapter President confirming the award, in addition they get one free registration for the Chapter conference, free membership of IFMA, including Chapter membership, for one year and gift tokens to the values of $2,000 to be redeemed at the online IFMA Bookstore.
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