A Comparative Study on Elements of Space Management in Facilities Management at Higher Education Institutions

There are many definitions given to describe facilities management, which each group and individual try to interpret means of facilities to their own understanding and professionalism. According to IFMA, facility management is a profession that includes the integration of activities from multiple disciplines to ensure functionality of the environment by integrating people, place, process and technology. One of the important key in facility management is the space management. Studies on the space management arc essential because the expenses associated with the space are the second highest cost after staff salary in higher education institutions. This study focuses on the importance of space management within the meaning and understanding of facilities management, and recommends the best methods for space management to the higher education institutions. The purpose of this study was to identify the importance of space management in facility management, that underestimated by most people. The mechanism used to analyze the definition of facilities management from year 1990 until 2005. From the analysis of the facility management definition, space management aspects to be highlight as one of the essential aspects in the facilities management that should be given as a priority. However, awareness among people regarding to vital of space management are less. Waste of space is still applicable in any organization especially in higher education institutions. To overcome this problem, the space charging model should be considered as a one of space management tools. Noted that the space management for institute of higher education are very critical and therefore, space and facilities management have to be the main agenda and need to be managed efficiently.