SÈRIES REIALS 4 Real Picadero de Carlos

There are total seven procedures for the design of Delphi survey. The first procedure) Delphi method is applied in this research.

The second procedure) The purpose of this step is to determine the critical success factors for outsourcing strategies of The FORT Model operated in FM industry.

The third procedure) In design of this experiment, an appropriate quantity of FM experts was selected and was qualified to contribute invaluable comments and ideas in the study. This procedure includes two parts as follows: design on panel structure (two Delphi panels i.e. client and service provider) and identification of FM experts (multiple-step iterative approach).

Design on panel structure

Initially, experts were divided into panels. Their size and constitution depends on the nature of the research question and the dimensions along which the experts will probably vary. Two categories of experts have trustworthy and valuable knowledge about outsourcing of FM. They are respectively such as clients and services providers. The two groups probably would have somewhat different perspectives. Since it is a goal to obtain a reasonable degree of consensus, it would be best to have panels that separate these groups. This design also permits comparison of the perspectives of the two stakeholder groups. Following recommendations from Delphi literature, there are 10 to 18 people in each panel. (Okoli and Pawlowski, 2004) Thus, there will be 10 to 18 FM experts in each Delphi panel i.e. client and service provider in this study. Within each panel, the goal is that all members actually work in the field of FM. This structure will obtain a sufficient number of perspectives. The perspectives

137

of the respondents could be analyzed afterwards. Identification of FM experts

Selection of FM experts will use a multiple-step iterative approach (five steps) to identify the experts. The purpose on application of this five-step process will ensure the identification and invitation of the most qualified experts available. The five steps are described as below.

1) Prepare a resource nomination worksheet (RNW)

The purpose of the Resource Nomination Worksheet is to help categorize the experts before identifying them, in order to prevent overlooking any important class of experts.

FM service

provider

Types of business client Local firm

Overseas firm

Tertiary education, Building construction, Surveying, Industrial engineering, Vocational education, University, IT, Banking, Health care, Property development, Retail services, Operation and supply chain and logistics

Table 5.3 - An initial Resource Nomination Worksheet

The most appropriate local organizations which employ FM professionals coming from the International Facility Management Association (Hong Kong Chapter) will be identified. It is important to stay at a high level, first identifying classes of professionals.

2) Populating the RNW with names

After the RNW is completed, the following iterative procedure will be used to populate the categories with actual names of potential experts for the Delphi study. Each heading (disciplines and organizations) represents a different lens for identifying and considering experts, and it is expected that there will be a

138

very high degree of overlap of expert names between and within headings. However, this multiple-lens perspective is necessary to identify as many experts as possible. For the two categories, personal list of contacts will be first go through to fit as many names as possible on selection the appropriate category. This should be the baseline procedure. However, the personal contacts are limited and are biased to personal networks. Thus, the qualified experts were identified in the two categories from the International FM Association (Hong Kong Chapter). After beginning with personal contacts, each heading in the RNW will be gone through and be further populated the lists according to the categories.

3) First-round contacts—nominations for additional experts

At this point, the identified experts will be contacted and be asked to nominate others for inclusion on the list. A brief description of the Delphi study will be provided and explain that they have been identified as FM experts in this research. They will be told that biographical information is currently gathered. This is important because as much biographical information as possible is needed to obtain about their qualifications. Information will also be tracked about which contact refers which other experts, to facilitate the follow-up needed later. The first round of contacts aims primarily at extending the RNW to ensure that it will include as many FM professionals as can possibly be accessed.

For the organizations that the contacts provide, the procedures detailed in Step b will be followed to identify specific names to place in the RNW. Furthermore, basic biographical information will be needed to obtain for every expert on the list in order to determine what qualifications they possess to make them experts. For example, the type of data recorded will include the professionalism, working experience and the length of years in FM, etc. Adequate information on each professional is needed in order to rank their expertise for the next step. At the end of this step, a list of about around 50 experts will be expected to have.

139

4) Ranking experts by qualifications

At this step, the qualifications of those on the large list of experts will be compared and be ranked in priority for invitation to the study. First, three sub-lists: clients, consultants and service providers will be created. Based on their current working qualifications, experts will be categorized into the sub-lists. Next according to the person’s degree of qualification, each sub-list will be independently ranked. The lists will be then come together to reconcile and to create the two sub-lists as ranked by qualifications. Eventually, the experts will be invited to participate in the study, stopping when reaching the required number.

5) Inviting experts to the study

Based on the rankings, one panel for each of the two categories will be created. Again, the target panel size is 18 (10 minimum) with at least half the members as middle or senior management level of the firms. Choosing the maximum number provides a buffer in case of attrition, even though participant drop-out tends to be very low when respondents have verbally assured their participation (contrast this with Brancheau et al., 1996). Each panelist will be communicated and be explained the subject of the study and the procedures required for it, including the commitment required. For this study, panelists will be asked to commit to completing up to four 5 minutes Delphi surveys about critical success factors and returning them within seven days of receipt, for a total of 20 minutes over a period 1 month. A limit of four questionnaires will be imposed so as not to tax the participants, and yet give them an honest appraisal of their time commitment.

Identification of FM experts in the Delphi survey is summarized in the Table 5.4. In this survey, participants will be required to have access to e-mail for receiving and returning questionnaires. Normally, this might be a serious biasing factor. Following the recommendation of Delbecq et al. 1975, the first questionnaire will be sent to each expert the same day they confirm their desire to participate. For each sub-list, panelist solicitation will begin by inviting the top nine experts who work as middle or senior management level of the

140

firms (half of target of 18). The experts will be invited one at a time until they reach the quota of nine. Next, the top nine experts in the remaining sub-list will be invited, whether or not they work as middle or senior management level of the firms.

Table 5.4 - Outlines of the five steps for selecting suitable practitioners in the Delphi survey

1) Prepare RNW - Identify relevant disciplines or skills

- Identify relevant organizations

2) Prepare RNW with names

- Write in names of individuals in relevant disciplines or skills

- Write in names of individuals in relevant organizations

3) Nominate

additional experts

- Contact experts listed in RNW

- Ask contacts to nominate other experts

4) Rank experts - Create three sub-lists, one for each category

i.e. clients, consultants and service providers - Categorize experts according to appropriate list e.g. professionalism, working experience and the length of years in FM

- Rank experts within each list based on their qualifications i.e. clients and service providers

5) Invite experts - Invite experts for each panel, with the panels

corresponding to each category

- Invite experts in the order of their ranking within their category sub list

- Each target size of Delphi panel is 10 -18

- Stop soliciting experts when each panel size is reached

141

the responses will be analyzed.

The fifth procedure) Next, another survey based on the responses to the first one will be designed and be readministered, asking respondents to revise their original responses and/or answer other questions based on group feedback from the first survey.

The sixth procedure) This process will be reiterated until the respondents reach a satisfactory degree of consensus for this step.

The seventh procedure) The respondents are kept anonymous to each other (though not to the researcher) throughout the process.