The Case of Marabella University Marabella University offers indigenous, based programmes at various levels including short courses, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. The university has been in existence for the past fifty years. The business of learning and the business of commercialization are two key aspects of its mission. A feasibility study was recently conducted in its home country, and it was discovered that the country requires a robust sporting program that combines theory and practice. The development of a swimming program was the first pilot project and was constructed in September 2021. The second phase of the project, which must be completed by September 2022, should focus on: New training programmes, and Monetizing the use of the swimming pool to increase the revenue of the university. At the University Campus, a 40 ft. x 50 ft. swimming pool was built. The pool is now an asset of the organization and must be maintained. The program's objectives, which intentionally align to the University’s business objectives, are as follows: Offer 5 new classes each year. Have 40% of students on campus use the pool facility, and Offer one aquatic tournament at the start of every academic year (i.e. September). The pool would require a maintenance strategy in order to achieve the project's goals. The strategic value that could be gained by having the pool could be achieved if the FM strategy is also aligned to the project’s goals. The FM unit is staffed with a team of twenty persons (as in-house staff). The Facilities Manager and the Project Coordinator were not involved in the construction of the swimming pool. The following are some key roles in the unit: Facilities Manager - 1 person on staff. Project Coordinator – 2 persons on staff Planning Engineer – 1 person on staff Maintenance Assistants – 16 persons on staff The FM team at Marabella University effectively performs the day-to-day delivery of FM services. On a day-to-day basis, the team manages but sometimes struggles to provide FM services for approximately 1500 people on the university campus. During the months of May to August, is also when the FM team tends to focus on getting much of the repair work done. The Facilities Management team developed a learning and development culture, which promotes learning on the job where some personnel work alongside the external contractors that are hired for jobs. The Problem The University Chancellor is thinking of reducing the staff within the FM unit to also reduce salary expenditures. He suggests removing a top-level manager and some of the lower level FM staff. The swimming pool must also be operational by the middle of August 2022. However, the maintenance of this asset was not included in the original overall maintenance budget, which is $100,000 US dollars. The Facilities Register includes the pool asset and the cost of maintaining the asset. At present, the FM needs to request an additional $4700 from the budget to provide the pool maintenance services identified on the FM register. Assignment Description and Instructions For this individual assignment, students are asked to write a paper that presents an analysis of the case study above. You will need to use a supporting FM Asset Register provided as a resource to guide your analysis of the case and your paper should focus on key areas below: A summary/overview of the case: The summary should highlight key elements of the case that are relevant to the role that FM will need to play. It should mention how Facilities Management can to contribute to the overall business strategy of the organization, how it can align to its strategic goals and the implications if the FM was involved from the inception of the project. An analysis of the concept, context and problem: (a) The analysis should review the impact that a staff reduction can have on FM responsibilities in the context of this case, with a view to justifying or refuting the University Chancellor’s recommendation to cut FM staff. Provide an explanation of the different roles that the Facilities Manager played in this scenario and if any other roles were omitted. (b) The analysis should discuss the implications for preparing for the inauguration of the pool facility in September 2022. It should make reference to the following: Which decisions should be made regarding the FM tasks that can be outsourced in time for the opening of the pool facility, and how these decisions would align to the goals of the project and achieve the business strategy? Provide justification for your points based on evidence provided by the case study narrative and the FM Register.
The Case of Marabella University
Marabella University offers indigenous, based programmes at various levels including short courses, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. The university has been in existence for the past fifty years. The business of learning and the business of commercialization are two key aspects of its mission.
A feasibility study was recently conducted in its home country, and it was discovered that the country requires a robust sporting program that combines theory and practice. The development of a swimming program was the first pilot project and was constructed in September 2021. The second phase of the project, which must be completed by September 2022, should focus on:
- New training programmes, and
- Monetizing the use of the swimming pool to increase the revenue of the university.
At the University Campus, a 40 ft. x 50 ft. swimming pool was built. The pool is now an asset of the organization and must be maintained. The program's objectives, which intentionally align to the University’s business objectives, are as follows:
- Offer 5 new classes each year.
- Have 40% of students on campus use the pool facility, and
- Offer one aquatic tournament at the start of every academic year (i.e. September).
The pool would require a maintenance strategy in order to achieve the project's goals. The strategic value that could be gained by having the pool could be achieved if the FM strategy is also aligned to the project’s goals.
The FM unit is staffed with a team of twenty persons (as in-house staff). The Facilities Manager and the Project Coordinator were not involved in the construction of the swimming pool. The following are some key roles in the unit:
- Facilities Manager - 1 person on staff.
- Project Coordinator – 2 persons on staff
- Planning Engineer – 1 person on staff
- Maintenance Assistants – 16 persons on staff
The FM team at Marabella University effectively performs the day-to-day delivery of FM services. On a day-to-day basis, the team manages but sometimes struggles to provide FM services for approximately 1500 people on the university campus. During the months of May to August, is also when the FM team tends to focus on getting much of the repair work done.
The Facilities Management team developed a learning and development culture, which promotes learning on the job where some personnel work alongside the external contractors that are hired for jobs.
The Problem
The University Chancellor is thinking of reducing the staff within the FM unit to also reduce salary expenditures. He suggests removing a top-level manager and some of the lower level FM staff. The swimming pool must also be operational by the middle of August 2022. However, the maintenance of this asset was not included in the original overall maintenance budget, which is $100,000 US dollars. The Facilities Register includes the pool asset and the cost of maintaining the asset. At present, the FM needs to request an additional $4700 from the budget to provide the pool maintenance services identified on the FM register.
Assignment Description and Instructions
For this individual assignment, students are asked to write a paper that presents an analysis of the case study above. You will need to use a supporting FM Asset Register provided as a resource to guide your analysis of the case and your paper should focus on key areas below:
- A summary/overview of the case:
The summary should highlight key elements of the case that are relevant to the role that FM will need to play. It should mention how Facilities Management can to contribute to the overall business strategy of the organization, how it can align to its strategic goals and the implications if the FM was involved from the inception of the project.
- An analysis of the concept, context and problem:
(a) The analysis should review the impact that a staff reduction can have on FM responsibilities in the context of this case, with a view to justifying or refuting the University Chancellor’s recommendation to cut FM staff. Provide an explanation of the different roles that the Facilities Manager played in this scenario and if any other roles were omitted.
(b) The analysis should discuss the implications for preparing for the inauguration of the pool facility in September 2022. It should make reference to the following:
- Which decisions should be made regarding the FM tasks that can be outsourced in time for the opening of the pool facility, and how these decisions would align to the goals of the project and achieve the business strategy?
- Provide justification for your points based on evidence provided by the case study narrative and the FM Register.
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