Beyond strategy: Exploring the brokerage role of facilities manager in hospitals
Journal of Health Organization and Management
ISSN: 1477-7266
Article publication date: 1 February 2005
Abstract
Purpose
Seeks to explore the brokerage role of facilities manager in hospitals, based on the premise that facilities management (FM) is largely concerned with “strategic brokerage”. Strategic brokerage is the term coined by Akhaghi to explain the integration of a wide range of support services to ensure the effective operation of the core business of an organization.
Design/methodology/approach
The research was conducted in the health service sector using a single case study approach to examine the brokerage potential for FM in a hospital in the Sydney Metropolitan area. A social network analysis technique was used to identify and analyse the communication networks of players in a hospital environment. Two general questions guided the analysis. First, what is the brokerage potential within the FM process? Second, where are the opportunities for brokerage?
Findings
The results indicate that identifying relationship linkages between different functional units can create potential brokerage opportunities.
Originality/value
The proposition is made that viewing FM from a brokerage perspective can add value to the delivery of health‐care services.
Keywords
Citation
Heng, H.K.S., McGeorge, W.D. and Loosemore, M. (2005), "Beyond strategy: Exploring the brokerage role of facilities manager in hospitals", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 19 No. 1, pp. 16-31. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777260510592112
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited