Global Trends in
Facilities Management
APPA’s Top Ten Critical Issues for the
Global Facilities Profession
Polly Pinney
APPA Immediate Past President
Executive Director, Facilities Management
Arizona State University
October 2010 - HEFMA
APPA’s Purpose
“TRANSFORMATIONAL”
– To elevate educational facilities
professionals into influential leaders
who, in turn, create inviting &
supportive learning environments,
which increases the profession’s
credibility
APPA’s Role
• Increase awareness of facilities profession with
senior institutional officers
• Establish industry standards & guidelines
• Identify effective & innovative practices
• Equip facilities professionals with the tools &
resources for increased effectiveness
• Enhance professional development
opportunities
Hence, “Leadership in Educational Facilities”
Megatrends & the Education
Enterprise
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Changing student demographics
Access and efficiency
Technology
Accountability
Green and lean
Facility Professionals
Must Remain and/or Become:
• Flexible & adaptable
• Creative & innovative
• Efficient & effective
Amidst Such CHALLENGES as…
• Weakened overall economy
• Reduced State support
• Financial shortfalls/Endowments
impacted
• Budget cuts & future funding issues
• Major travel cutbacks & restrictions
• Increased enrollments (at most
institutions)
Resultant Impact
Increased stress on:
– Your infrastructure
– Your systems
– Your personnel
– Your time
Requiring…
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An increased body of knowledge
New competencies and skills
More effective and innovative practices
The need for organizational leadership
Hence, a highly educated and technically
trained workplace
• Which way do you
turn?
• Where do you focus
your attention?
APPA’s Top Ten
Critical Issues for the
Global Facilities
Profession is one
beginning point!
Global Trends in Facilities
Management
• Adjusting to the new sustainability reality
• Developing an institutional vision of
sustainability
• Creating a leadership role for facilities
managers in addressing sustainability
• Confronting economic challenges
• Fixing broken budget models
Global Trends in Facilities
Management (continued)
• Managing rising energy costs and energy
volatility
• Engaging the campus to address energy
challenges
• Managing space
• Prioritizing renewal needs
• Meeting the challenges of workforce
development
Adjusting to the New
Sustainability Reality
The Issue:
– Adjust to
sustainability as a
permanent way
of doing business
Strategies:
– A long term shift in
the culture
– The campus as a
proving ground
– Leverage
sustainability
efforts
Developing an Institutional
Vision of Sustainability
The Issue:
– Develop a vision
of sustainability
that drives
decision-making.
Strategies:
– Define
sustainability
– Set specific goals,
establish metrics,
measure progress
– Short-term actions
support long-term
vision
Creating a Leadership Role for
Facilities Managers in Addressing
Sustainability
The Issue:
– Facilities
managers need
to take
leadership roles.
Strategies:
– Provide education,
skills, & leadership
abilities
– Communicate the
value
– Leverage existing
facilities operations
Confronting Economic
Challenges
The issue:
– Maintain forward
momentum
Strategies:
– Set realistic
expectations
– Leverage
sustainability
– Incorporate total cost
of ownership into
decision-making
– Engage legislators/
decision-makers
Fixing Broken Budget Models
The issue:
– The
finance/budgeting
model fails to
encourage longterm, comprehensive
thinking
Strategies:
– Consider the
unintended
consequences
– Provide incentives
for long-term
thinking
– Utilize TCO approach
– Evaluate needs
holistically
Managing Rising Energy Costs
and Energy Volatility
The issue:
Strategies:
– Adapt/develop
– Consider more
strategies that
creative strategies
reduce the risk of
– Include the cost of
energy price volatility
CO2 emissions in
campus growth &
energy decisions
– Stay current on
legislative
discussions
Engaging The Campus To
Address Energy Challenges
The issue:
– The entire campus
must be mobilized
Strategies:
– Leverage student &
faculty advocacy
– Make energy use
personal
– Implement energy
conservation in all
areas
– Offer incentives
Managing Space
The issue:
Strategies:
– Make more
– Rethink space
responsible and
management
energy-conscious use
– Create clear
of the built
standards & policies
environment
– Create metrics to
measure space
utilization
Prioritizing Renewal Needs
The issue:
– Consider backlog of
renewal in light of
sustainability and
increase the priority
for upgrade of
inefficient structures
Strategies:
– Advocate for renewal
of outdated buildings
– Include sustainability
as a factor in facility
assessments
– Develop criteria to
determine which
buildings are not
worth saving
Meeting The Challenge of
Workforce Development
The issue:
– Confront workforce
development issues
to be prepared for
these inevitable
challenges
Strategies:
– Assess the impact of
the recession
– Help current staff
adjust to change
– Develop strategies to
bring in new skills
– Create a knowledge
transfer system
Facilities Departments Can
Contribute to Improving
Sustainability
• Must play a central role in “green” projects
• Already understand energy & building issues
• Can provide information, insight & perspective
to campus leaders
• Understand the campus as a whole (system)
Leadership & Change
Management Skills are Essential…
“…new and more effective leadership is
required. The broad impact of facilities on
future organizational success provides an
unprecedented opportunity for facilities
professionals and also new skill
expectations.”
COLLABORATION IS THE
NEON SIGN FOR SUCCESS!
Thank YOU!
For more information on APPA’s programs,
products, and services visit our website at
www.APPA.org
Questions?
Discussion!
Polly Pinney
APPA Immediate Past President &
Executive Director, Facilities Management
Arizona State University
Polly.Pinney@asu.edu
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