Articles
Lexis Nexis FM - The Third Way
Public sector facilities managers will soon be able to choose not just between providing services in-house or outsourcing them to the private sector – they will also have the option of using voluntary sector providers. Read the article here.
Trends in Management Consulting
Looking at the future and addressing the obvious question: which developments should business consultants face up to in respect to the overall economy as well as in their specific industry? We have tried to answer this question by describing some of the trends for management consulting companies in 2011.
How does the Bribery Act effect you?
Practices such as asking suppliers for rebates or one-off payments are set to come under increased scrutiny with the implementation of new legislation, warns Melita Thomas, in her latest article for Lexis Nexis FM. Read more...
paper - Property companies in distress
Very little attention is given to the "crises" of property companies and their operational structures. Very often, crises can be seen to be rooted in companies themselves, and often, this is not recognized until an external factor reveals them.
This paper, by Dietmar Patjens, briefly identifies some types and causes of crises in property companies.
Read the paper here...
Article - Lexis Nexis FM - Topiary
Melita Thomas warns that wielding the axe of spending cuts too hard could lead to short-term savings at the expense of long-term value for money. Read the article here
The deadline for initial submissions under the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme is 31st July. Melita explored some of the potential effects of the legislation on service charges in her June article for Lexis Nexis' Facilities Management Monthly.
It provides a summary of legislation and a short guide to the implications for property & facility manager and tenants.
Read the article (PDF)
Lexis Nexis - The Automation Maze
In Lexis Nexis' Facilities Management Monthly, Melita Thomas summarises the key points that Facilities Managers need to consider when selecting IT systems.
Read more
Lexis Nexis - Not just for teenagers
In Lexis Nexis - Facilities Management, Melita Thomas explores the benefits and drawbacks of using sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to communicate with building occupants, share knowledge and develop relationships with industry contacts. Read more...
Process manuals - not just compliance
Cost savings, performance measurement, compliance, risk management and continuous improvement - all at once? Rudi Römisch from our Munich office looks at how one project can address many issues. Read more...
RICS Journal of Commercial Property - Occupier systems
The RICS published Andrew's article about selecting and using property management systems for corporate occupier estates in their March/April 2010 edition. A copy of the article is on our website here.
The Role of Social Media in Property - RICS Paper
Although Social Media's best known applications might be Twitter and Facebook, this new wave of applications is much more than just Social. Hammerson and Grosvenor are using Twitter in their shopping centres and Aviva is using Facebook to manage a property portfolio. Business networks are being built on industry platforms such as CREOpoint and companies are using Crowdsourcing to reduce the cost and time taken to resource projects.
This RICS Information Paper will help you prepare for the opportunities, and often risky consequences, of Social Media - it is here to stay: use it wisely. Read the paper (PDF)...
Also see our Social Media page for more details
We are lucky enough to have a number of people in our team who enjoy the challenge of writing to deadlines about topical issues. We admit that we also enjoy seeing our work in print.
We try to pick subjects which are relevant and on which our opinions can make a difference to our work; and, whether you agree with us or not, we really appreciate it when people get in touch to discuss the topic.
Additionally, two of our team have written books on technology and property.
Andrew Waller's book, IT for Property People, sets out the premise that successful using IT has little to do with technology itself - it is about understanding how your business works. It is an essential starter for property professionals who want to use technology more effectively. More info...
Bob Thompson co-wrote Real Estate and the New Economy with Tim Dixon. This book discusses how IT is impacting the shape and form of real estate in our towns and cities. More info...
Please do contact us to discuss any of the topics in our articles or books.
