Factors influencing service quality An empirical evidence from property managers of shopping complexes in Ibadan, Nigeria

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine factors influencing service quality of the property managers to the occupiers of shopping complexes in Ibadan, Nigeria. This was with a view to providing information that could enhance property management practice. Design/methodology/approach Primary data were used for the study. The study area was stratified into five axes using major roads where shopping complexes were highly concentrated. Systematic sampling technique was used to select 139 out of 276 shopping complexes in the study area. The data obtained were analyzed using mean ranking and principal component analysis. Findings The study found that ineffective employee's compensation, high employee turnover, lack of continuous improvement culture, inadequate use of employee empowerment, inadequate staff, lack of teamwork, inability to see tenants as customer, lack of motivation, education and training of the property managers and poor planning among others were the most significant factors influencing service quality of the property managers using mean ranking. The study further found that professional and empowerment factor, teamwork and motivation factor, customer related factor, work volume and operation factor, skills and job satisfaction factor, top-management commitment factor, experience and communication factor as well as financial factor were the factors influencing service quality of the property managers using principal component analysis. Originality/value Previous studies on factors influencing service quality have been focusing on hospitality, healthcare, real estate agency and library industries. This study is one of the very few studies that examined factors influencing service quality of property managers of shopping complex. Also, the paper underlines the need for property managers of shopping complexes to give required attention to factors influencing service quality for enhanced property management practice.