Integration of facility manager in planning, design, and execution of construction projects

Abstract Construction projects typically progress through four primary phases, namely planning, design, implementation, and operation. This study discusses the facility manager’s (FM) role during the project development phases prior to operation to improve the facility’s operational efficiency. The study applied deductive positivism approaches and quantitative analysis through the application of stratified sampling and cross-sectional survey to identify the potential roles before the operation phase. The study identified the primary roles in which FM might participate throughout the project’s lifecycle. The results confirmed that FM has a crucial role in the decision-making process in the design phase while having minimal roles in the planning and execution phases. Additionally, results showed that among stakeholders, clients are the most reluctant to support FM integration in projects while consultants are the most supportive group. The client’s reluctance can be linked with potential added administrative costs and complexities or concerns related to duplication of roles. The study proposed a model to effectively integrate FM throughout the project while preserving managerial flexibility to fit different client institutions' needs and their various administrative systems.