The website and online abstract submission system is now live for the W70 conference in Cape Town in January 2012. Go to www.cibsa.org.za for all the details

Welcome to CIB W070 - an international community dedicated to the furtherance of facilities management research. As a longstanding working party (W070) of the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) it warmly invites new members to join this research led community.

"Providing support to business achievements in terms of appropriate facilities and support services is core to facilities management, whether in-housed or externally sourced. The main differentiator of good facilities management is no longer technical competences but relies on skilful procurement and effective management of business resources (people, property and technology), grounded on a thorough understanding business needs within a level of affordability.

 
The broadening acceptance of facilities management as a profession is already evident in at least five continents.  The skills set in facilities management potentially covers areas in strategic facilities planning; space planning and workplace strategies; asset management and maintenance; and facilities support service procurement and management. The creative potential in FM does not lie in looking at each of these areas in isolation. FM innovations must evolve from new enabling processes, enhanced capabilities and new relationships between the various stakeholders.

Clearly, there will be a period of adjustments in culture and training before real benefits can be realised.  But there is no denying that we are in a period of development that offers opportunities for FM to be embedded as part of an overall business planning process. For multi-national businesses, the facilities dimensions are not longer national in context; very often, corporate facilities issues are dealt with on a regional or even global scale.

Working Commission W70 will continue to be, a unique forum for voicing and debating changes in education and training, research and practice, new relationships between stakeholders. FM is in the midst of transformations in the procurement of building and infrastructure, support services and workplace strategies. The continuing challenge for W70 is to remain relevant against this sea change brought about by rapid technological advances, growing acceptance of environmental sustainability  and social transformation in lifestyles and work. "
(Dr Danny Shiem-Shin Then)

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