Editorial

Citation

Finch, E. (2002), "Editorial", Facilities, Vol. 20 No. 10. https://doi.org/10.1108/f.2002.06920jaa.001

Editorial

Debate is a refreshing part of any intellectual process. Indeed, without it, it is difficult to see how a discipline such as facilities management can hope to stand alongside other more established disciplines. This year's EuroFM conference in Madrid provided just such a forum for debate, enabling many attendees to question and challenge the presentations of speakers. For many participants it is these opportunities for discussion that are most enlightening – the presentations simply providing more unanswered but important questions.

But what about debate in academic journals such as Facilities? The refereeing process can lead to challenging situations, but for the reader this process is transparent. There are three typical responses by readers to an academic paper:

1. 1.

   they accept the publication as an authority;

2. 2.

   they identify limitations in the paper but choose not to do anything about it; or

3. 3.

   they identify limitations and are prepared to put pen to paper to set things right.

Unfortunately the last of these three responses is all too rare. For those involved in the academic arena the pressure is to "publish, publish, publish". The process of publishing is seen as an end in itself rather than as a stepping stone. The objective is to offload information rather than invite debate.

In my opinion the debating process itself should be the driving force behind the publication process. In established journals papers invariably emerge from a challenge to or exploration of another paper from another author. The body of knowledge is built up by the acceptance of sound building blocks and the rejection of imperfect ones.

I wish to invite readers to get involved in this debating process. If there is a better way of doing things why not offer it? If there is a flaw in someone's reasoning why not challenge it? If a paper fails to ask the right questions, why not put them forward. Academics and practitioners alike need to make their points heard. Discussion papers arising from previously published Facilities papers, however short, are very welcome. Your initial fear that you may upset the author may be unfounded. If it is developed in a reasoned and fair way it can help the other author. Indeed it may help to reassure the author that someone is actually listening to what they are saying!

Edward Finch