Space Management
Effective management of space can be achieved through measurement of current usage, understanding why wastage occurs and educating users in directed good practice.
Measurement
The principle management tool used to measure space usage is the utilisation survey. For a designated period of time, room usage is measured in terms of how often they are occupied and by how many people. This qualitative approach allows a profile to be built up of room usage across an institution. From this profile, decisions can be made on how reorganisation should occur to make more effective use of the available space. It is important to note that this reorganisation may relate to the pedagogic delivery patterns as well as room types, relationships and sizes.
Understanding
It is important to gain appreciation of the demand from the user point of view. This is achieved by direct meetings with user representatives within each functional unit. This may be based on location e.g. grouping of buildings and/or academic structure e.g. School of Computing. This qualitative approach will gather important knowledge relating to particular issues within the space usage profile. This exercise can therefore be targeted or widespread depending on the required outcome.
Educating
In response to the measurement and subsequent understanding of current space usage, measures should be put in place with the aim of addressing the important issues. These will be a combination of global and local measures e.g. Issues identified locally and within local control should be acted on locally. Issues identified locally beyond local control should be acted on by management. As people see the system changing they work with it and thus improve the system further.
As a result of this approach, the following key points are achievable;
Poor usage is identified and addressed.
Appropriate pedagogic structures are developed to make full use of the space.
Space utilisation increases.
Staff morale increases.
Procedures and systems introduced are used resulting in valuable management information.
Flexibility measures can be introduced and monitored for students, curriculum and staff.
An automated intelligent approach may be considered for institutional reorganisation.
An automated approach may be considered for the course timetabling process.
It is stressed that carrying out this approach to space management is pivotal in understanding where software can be introduced into the Institution.