Author: Adegoriola, Mayowa Idakolo
Title: An integrated framework for heritage building maintenance management : the facility management perspective
Advisors: Yung, H. K. Esther (BRE)
Chan, H. W. Edwin (BRE)
Lai, H. K. Joseph (BSE)
Degree: Ph.D.
Year: 2023
Subject: Historic buildings -- Management
Historic buildings -- Conservation and restoration
Facility management
Building management
Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations
Department: Department of Building and Real Estate
Pages: 1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations
Language: English
Abstract: Heritage buildings (HBs) have been identified as iconic buildings vital to any nation's development. Therefore, considering the socio-cultural and economic importance of HBs, the United Nations (UN) prioritized their maintenance and protection and captured them in sustainable development goals (SDG). Although HB maintenance management (HBMM) concerns have been the focal subject of discussion by the government at international and local scenes, many are still in dilapidated conditions globally. In 2021, the World heritage committee declared 54 world heritage properties in danger. FM practices in HB management have still been limited due to HB specificity regarding legislative requirements, socio-cultural significance, and multiple stakeholders' involvement, which impacts HBMM.
Similarly, in Nigeria, many HBs are derelict, undermaintained, or demolished due to various issues such as insufficient maintenance funding, shortage of skilled HB expertise, lack of government support, and inadequate knowledge on HB significance, challenging effective HBMM. These issues are counterproductive to enhancing the sustainability of HBs through maintenance. Therefore, it is imperative to examine HBMM practices to understand its dynamics.
Thus, this current study aims to identify the salient issues impeding HBMM and appropriate strategies to improve HBMM in Nigeria and Hong Kong. Comparisons were also made to understand the operational phenomenon of HBMM in a developed context, Hong Kong, which has a unique context of a compact, high-dense city with immense redevelopment pressure that makes HB conservation extremely difficult to pursue. Demolition and redevelopment are always preferred over the conservation and maintenance of HBs. Similarly, Nigeria has a densely constructed settlement with increasing pressure to demolish HBs for modern buildings. Due to the limited research on HBMM in Nigeria, an additional evaluation of HBMM was conducted.
The objectives of this study were achieved through multi-techniques involving comprehensive literature reviews, questionnaire surveys, and interviews with HBMM practitioners in the study areas. The collected data was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative techniques, including factor analysis (FA), fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE), structural equation modeling, and content analysis.
The key results of the study showed that the Hong Kong and Nigerian respondents had statistically significant perception differences on three influencing factors of HBMM: cultural or religious attachment to HB, local statutory laws governing HB maintenance, and reliance on government funding and approval for HB maintenance. These differences may result from governance and socio-cultural disposition on HB significance in both areas.
The result of the CSFs for effective FM operations showed that similar CSFs were critical in both study areas. However, they operated differently, featuring other factors in different groups per study area. Regarding the challenges faced by FM in HBMM, the constraints were grouped into 3 and 4 constraint clusters in Hong Kong and Nigeria, respectively. Additionally, the findings showed that the HB peculiarities constraints (PBC) and managerial and financial constraint (MFC) cluster ranked highest based on the significant index (SI) values in Hong Kong and Nigeria.
Also, the experts in both jurisdictions identified similar strategies to improve the implementation of HBMM operations but with varying significance levels. Furthermore, findings revealed that only four of the hypothesized strategy paths had a significant positive influence on the HBMM constraints. The result supported the hypothesis that advancement and information strategy (AIS) and implementation and support strategy (IMS) has a significant positive influence on socio-political constraints (SPC). Likewise, the IMS significantly positively influences evaluation and external constraints (EEC) and managerial and stakeholders constraints (MSC). In addition, the outcome of the interview revealed that HB ownership structure largely influences maintenance operations, such as maintenance decisions and the availability of maintenance funds. Finally, the study's key findings were synthesized to develop an integrated framework for successful FM operations in HBMM for Nigeria.
This study contributes to the HBMM body of knowledge and theory. This study bridges a theoretical gap by applying the contingency theory approach (CTA) to FM in HBMM. The CTA, which stipulates a context-specific managerial approach, was used to unravel the complexities involved in HBMM based on HB idiosyncrasy. In addition, the study identified the critical clusters of HBMM CSFs, challenges, and strategies from FM's perspective fundamental to achieving an effective HBMM operation. Also, the study mapped significant strategy paths which ascertain specific solutions that may resolve HBMM issues, which is a novel contribution to knowledge. Further, the study developed a criticality index and a significance index model, which provide valuable information for HBMM practitioners and policymakers to focus on channeling resources to addressing crucial issues in HBMM, both in Nigeria and other countries.
Rights: All rights reserved
Access: open access

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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/12287