Getting full value

Efficiency and value are two things every FM should apply to what they do, says Ismena Clout, the BIFM's newly appointed deputy chair

 

5 August 2010

You can’t help but notice that the effects of the recession and past government overspending are being felt across business and even our own pockets. The buzz words repeated ad infinitum go from cuts and reduce to more positive efficiency and value, as an industry it is better for us to focus on the positive and continue with our proven track of controlling costs and delivering service.

In fact efficiency and value are two things we should look at applying to everything we do, from how we manage our household to how we conduct ourselves and perform at work. Efficiency in the workplace ranges from the programming of your BMS; what energy saving measures there are installed; how desks and meeting rooms are used through to staffing levels.

Value should be in all the services we provide/use, make sure that every contract delivers on its KPIs and SLAs to ensure you are getting/delivering the value agreed at the start. Then look for the value-adds, in a competitive market place we should all be looking to provide/receive value add. Be it bringing new innovations in technology or working practices to providing advice and support.

The old adage of “you get what you pay for” cannot be forgotten, purchasing departments are becoming the driving force in decision and this will be at the detriment of the service provided. Their focus is on cuts and reduction which might work in the short term but could have devastating effects in the long term. You can’t help but think of comparing shopping at Primark and Marks & Spencer. Primark stock low cost garments that quickly change with the fashions but in Marks & Spencer there are clothes that might cost a bit more but will serve you for a whole lot longer.

So how does this apply to BIFM? Every year many of you pay for your membership, put the letters after your name and then your next interaction is when the invoice arrives the following year. Maybe it’s time you look to getting the full value from the membership? There are many networking events going on around the country, on average 12 a month, ranging in topic, location and time of day. There is a wealth of information the website, from the forum where you can post queries to the KPI register. There are the new qualifications, training courses and FM World. The value is there for you, are you getting the best out of it that you can?

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