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Article
Publication date: 23 May 2023

Arnt O. Hopland and Sturla Kvamsdal

There is widespread and long-lasting worry related to the condition of public purpose buildings and public investments. Public buildings make up a huge capital stock and proper…

206

Abstract

Purpose

There is widespread and long-lasting worry related to the condition of public purpose buildings and public investments. Public buildings make up a huge capital stock and proper maintenance and investments are important for public policy. Notwithstanding, the relevant research literature is fragmented and spread across several fields. The authors take stock of earlier and more recent research and suggest some ideas for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors summarize the relevant literature and discuss implications of various theoretical assumptions and empirical findings for maintenance and investment strategies.

Findings

A better understanding of the role of public facilities in public service provision is important. Relevant topics for further research are the impact of technological changes, both in buildings and service provision, economic issues including macroeconomic shocks and trends that influence public funding and demand for public services, and advancing maintenance scheduling models to consider a portfolio of facilities. Further, the empirical literature suffers from a lack of relevant data to gauge both the condition of public facilities and their impact on public services.

Originality/value

There is widespread worry that poor facilities adversely impact public services, but the size and significance of this impact are an open question. This paper contributes by taking stock of the existing research on public facilities, maintenance, and investments, and suggest ideas for further work.

Details

Property Management, vol. 41 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-7472

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Article
Publication date: 1 January 2025

Arnt O. Hopland and Sturla Kvamsdal

The purpose of this study is to analyze how public buildings and their condition relate to how satisfied users are with related public services.

11

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze how public buildings and their condition relate to how satisfied users are with related public services.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from two surveys are coupled: a survey of public officials on the state of public buildings and on their expectation of the impact on public services and a citizen survey that includes satisfaction measures for public services. Public records on finances and other relevant aspects of local governments are also considered.

Findings

Expectations of public officials on the impact of building conditions on services are weakly correlated with satisfaction of the public with public services. When factors that may impact building conditions as well as services are controlled for, the results are fragmented. For nursing homes, poor building conditions and low satisfaction with elderly care are significantly related. For kindergartens and schools, as well as the overall measure, there is no significant relationship between building conditions and satisfaction with public services.

Originality/value

The results are contrary to earlier analysis and may indicate data quality issues. The results also demonstrate the lack of understanding of how public buildings support and facilitate the production of public services.

Details

Facilities , vol. 43 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-2772

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 19 May 2023

Arnt O. Hopland, Marianne Haraldsvik and Sturla Kvamsdal

Describe the trends in investments in the water, sewage and waste disposal sector (WSD) in Norwegian local governments and search for determinants that can explain variations in…

52

Abstract

Purpose

Describe the trends in investments in the water, sewage and waste disposal sector (WSD) in Norwegian local governments and search for determinants that can explain variations in investment levels across local governments. The water, sewage and WSD is the second most important sector in Norwegian local governments in terms of the share of total investments and is subject to much debate due to aging pipelines in many communities. However, as pipelines are hidden in the ground, this is also a sector that can easily be forgotten until an actual failure in the system occurs.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyze a large data set of all Norwegian local governments in the period 2003–2018 using descriptive statistics and regression techniques.

Findings

The investment levels are driven by need, in terms of expectations of a growing population, and fiscal capacity. Hence, the authors conclude that the investment decisions seem to be mostly based on reasonably rational evaluations of the local governments' future needs and capacity to pay for investments.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature on determinants of public capital expenditures. An important part of this debate is whether differences in expenditure levels reflect rational decisions based on changes in need and fiscal capacity or shortsighted policy decisions.

Details

Property Management, vol. 41 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-7472

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Article
Publication date: 14 December 2022

Arnt O. Hopland and Sturla Kvamsdal

Although Norway is an affluent country, there is widespread and long-lasting worry related to the condition of public purpose buildings. The purpose of this paper is to study how…

192

Abstract

Purpose

Although Norway is an affluent country, there is widespread and long-lasting worry related to the condition of public purpose buildings. The purpose of this paper is to study how the condition of local public purpose buildings affect citizen satisfaction with local public services in Norwegian local governments, using data from two Norwegian survey data sets.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper investigates how the conditions of local public purpose buildings affect residents’ satisfaction with local public services, using data from two Norwegian survey data sets. The data is analyzed using regression analysis.

Findings

This paper finds a significantly positive relationship between building conditions and overall satisfaction with local public services, kindergartens and schools. This paper finds no such relationship between building conditions and satisfaction with nursing homes. This paper quantifies the average expected impact on public service satisfaction from a hypothetical one unit improvement in building conditions, as measured on the building condition scale, and discuss this impact in the context of expenditure on public services.

Originality/value

There is widespread worry that poor facilities adversely impact public services, but the size and significance of this impact are open questions. This paper contributes by offering new insights into the relationship between the condition of public buildings and provision of public services. The results indicate how the state of public facilities should be considered a part of the production function for public services.

Details

Facilities , vol. 41 no. 1/2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-2772

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 27 September 2019

Arnt Ove Hopland and Sturla F. Kvamsdal

The purpose of this paper is to investigate a survey on critical success factor for the maintenance of local public buildings and how reported score values and factor rankings…

226

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate a survey on critical success factor for the maintenance of local public buildings and how reported score values and factor rankings depend on characteristics (contingencies) of the local governments that participated.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use data from a large-scale survey of Norwegian local governments that covered 66 per cent of all local governments and 80 per cent of the population. The authors combine these data with contingent information from public registers on demographics, fiscal, political and geographical characteristics. The authors run regressions to determine whether contingencies affect survey results. They further study how score values vary with a key contingent factor.

Findings

The main result of this paper is that the reported importance of critical success factors is contingent on local government population levels. A comparison of importance rankings based on population quartiles shows that ranking orders change, both between quartiles and from the overall ranking, and that certain factors show systematic changes. Further, the authors find that when controlling for sampling error, groups of factors should be considered as equally important. This result holds both for the full sample ranking and for rankings within population quartiles.

Originality/value

The results of this paper have implications for all survey-based investigations of critical success factors where contingent information on respondents are available. Contingencies need to be taken into consideration, both when assessing rankings according to some criteria and when comparing actual score values.

Details

Journal of Facilities Management , vol. 17 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1472-5967

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Article
Publication date: 27 November 2018

Arnt O. Hopland and Sturla Kvamsdal

In light of evidence of low levels of maintenance of public buildings, this paper aims to investigate trends and determinants of public building conditions in Norwegian local…

233

Abstract

Purpose

In light of evidence of low levels of maintenance of public buildings, this paper aims to investigate trends and determinants of public building conditions in Norwegian local governments.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors consider data from surveys and public records in regression analyses.

Findings

On average, the condition of Norwegian local public facilities has improved slightly in the period 2004-2016. The survey data suggest substantial fluctuations in building conditions and a negative relationship between building conditions in 2004 and 2016. Local governments with poor building conditions in 2004 had higher investment in the following years. The authors find no systematic relationship between the conditions in 2004 and maintenance expenditures in subsequent years. They conclude that if maintenance levels are too low, the results suggest that investment levels are too high. Further, they find that both political and fiscal factors are important in explaining building conditions.

Originality/value

The authors provide insight into determinants and trends of building conditions in Norwegian local governments. The results hint at an unhealthy balance between maintenance spending and public investments.

Details

Facilities, vol. 37 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-2772

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Article
Publication date: 5 February 2018

Arnt Ove Hopland and Sturla Kvamsdal

The purpose of this paper is to discuss rankings of critical success factors (CSFs) from survey data, both with respect to what information such rankings should be based on and…

555

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss rankings of critical success factors (CSFs) from survey data, both with respect to what information such rankings should be based on and how to evaluate and interpret uncertainty from sampling errors.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a survey on CSFs in public facilities management. The survey data set covers two-thirds of all Norwegian local governments and 80 per cent of the Norwegian population. The authors analyze the data using basic statistics and bootstrap sampling techniques.

Findings

Rankings of CSFs are sensitive to the information one chooses to collect in the survey. With the survey data, the authors show that the typical approach of inquiring about importance of various factors leads to a different ranking of factors than if one inquires about cost efficiency. The authors further consider a ranking that reflects all information in the data; the authors look in particular at a ranking with equal weights to importance and cost efficiency. The authors also find that many factors, when controlling for sampling error, should be ranked equally, and that further considerations need to be consulted when priorities are decided.

Originality/value

The authors demonstrate the effect of cost efficiency and uncertainty considerations on rankings of CSFs for facilities management. The study paves the way for a broader and more comprehensive perspective on CSFs and what these factors should and could reflect.

Details

Journal of Facilities Management, vol. 16 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1472-5967

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Article
Publication date: 28 August 2020

Arnt O. Hopland and Sturla Kvamsdal

This paper aims to investigate preferences for office spaces among academic staff at a university. The authors consider differences across age groups, seniority, position type and…

520

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate preferences for office spaces among academic staff at a university. The authors consider differences across age groups, seniority, position type and current office situation.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is an empirical investigation of survey data using descriptive statistics and regression analyses. The sample consists of 485 academic employees at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Findings

Staff in individual offices are substantially more satisfied with their office space than those who share office space. Moreover, those in large offices are more satisfied than those in smaller. Large offices are occupied by staff with high seniority, and staff with large offices tend to host meetings more frequently than their colleagues. However, it is not clear whether differences in office spacing reflect real needs or mostly status.

Originality/value

Understanding which office spaces that stimulate the best research and higher education is of great importance when policy makers plan resource allocation.

Details

Facilities , vol. 39 no. 5/6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-2772

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 3 April 2018

Arnt O. Hopland and Sturla Kvamsdal

This paper aims to investigate which concerns are most important for local government facility managers in Norway.

294

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate which concerns are most important for local government facility managers in Norway.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyze a survey dataset covering about two-thirds of all Norwegian local governments and 80 per cent of the Norwegian population. The authors consider both descriptive statistics and results from an ordered probit regression analysis.

Findings

Facility managers are most concerned about weak fiscal conditions and lack of political priority of facility management, and local governments reporting public buildings in good condition generally have fewer and less serious concerns. Further, managers in municipalities with a solid fiscal balance are less concerned both about how tight fiscal conditions and lack of political prioritization affect facility management. Managers in municipalities with a centralized facility management structure are less concerned that the organizational structure of the facility management is sub-optimal. Finally, managers in populous municipalities have less concern about tight fiscal conditions, organizational structure and recruitment issues.

Originality/value

The paper offers insights on which concerns are most important among local government facility managers and how these concerns vary with local government characteristics. These insights are valuable in the ongoing debate over best facility management practice and in facility management policy work.

Details

Facilities, vol. 36 no. 5/6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-2772

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Article
Publication date: 18 April 2016

Arnt O. Hopland and Sturla F. Kvamsdal

– The purpose of this paper is to set up and analyze a formal model for maintenance scheduling for local government purpose buildings.

663

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to set up and analyze a formal model for maintenance scheduling for local government purpose buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors formulate the maintenance scheduling decision as a dynamic optimization problem, subject to an accelerating decay. This approach offers a formal, yet intuitive, weighting of an important trade-off when deciding a maintenance schedule.

Findings

The optimal maintenance schedule reflects a trade-off between the interest rate and the rate at which the decay accelerates. The prior reflects the alternative cost, since the money spent on maintenance could be saved and earn interests, while the latter reflects the cost of postponing maintenance. Importantly, it turns out that it is sub-optimal to have a cyclical maintenance schedule where the building is allowed to decay and then be intensively maintained before decaying again. Rather, local governments should focus the maintenance either early in the building’s life-span and eventually let it decay toward replacement/abandonment or first let it decay to a target level and then keep it there until replacement/abandonment. Which of the two is optimal depends on the trade-off between the alternative cost and the cost of postponing maintenance.

Originality/value

The paper provides a first formal inquiry into important trade-offs that are important for maintenance scheduling of local public purpose buildings.

Details

Property Management, vol. 34 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-7472

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