Problems of facilities management in Polytechnics in Ghana: Case Study Kumasi Polytechnic
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Date
2004-11-23
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Abstract
Education is about excellence and unsatisfactory facilities will affect the ability of tertiary institutions to achieve their mission. Facilities management activities in Polytechnics in Ghana have traditionally focused on the performance of physical building systems and repair works, without detailed consideration for how they might be managed to better support learning and teaching activities. As technical manpower training institutions, polytechnics depend on their facilities. Therefore, the extent to which facilities management is a component of the strategic management (thinking) of polytechnics is vital to the way in which knowledge can be produced, managed, disseminated, assessed and controlled. The current state of physical facilities of the polytechnics is an important indicator of the importance of strategic facilities management in the polytechnics. The study investigated the problems of facilities management and the effect of facilities management on user performance. Primary and Secondary data sources were used. Sample survey, in-depth interviews and observation were used in primary data collection. Analysis of data revealed that there is some level of awareness of the importance of facilities management among top management of polytechnics but level of commitment in implementing facilities management decisions is quite low. It was also observed that the standard of approaches to facilities management in the polytechnics is below expectation. The major problems identified were inadequate funds and facilities management staff, inadequate facilities and large number of facilities users, misuse of facilities, lack of strategic direction in facilities management and poor facilities information management system. Findings of the study suggest that facilities management affects the output of polytechnic staff and students. Recommendations were made to improve the facilities management in polytechnics.
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Economics and Industrial Management, KNUST, Kumasi in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Administration degree, 2004