INTRODUCTION
1. The Importance of Planning
6 Best Practice Guide The aim of this Guide is to describe good practice
in all types of commercial (non-domestic) moving
activities. It is intended to inform and assist
those, such as Facilities Managers (FM), who hold
responsibility for organising and managing such
activities and others who may only be responsible
for some individual element or phase of a move.
The Guide emphasises how planning is the key
to a successful move and it describes the many
different facets that must be taken into account to
ensure success with the minimum of disruption to
the organisation and its staff.
Organisations may move either wholly or in
part for a variety of reasons, such as expansion
or reduction in size, rationalisation of multiple
locations, expiry of leases or simply for financial
considerations. Whatever the reason, moves can
be traumatic and costly to both the organisation
and its staff and customers or patrons. However,
with proper planning, well in advance, downtime
and inconvenience can be minimised and normal
activities can be resumed according to the
agreed timetable.
The Outline Plan
Unfortunately it is not uncommon for the person
who will oversee the move to become involved in
the planning of it only at a relatively late stage,
particularly in smaller organisations that do not have
a dedicated facilities manager.
Executive management may have made decisions
that include the selection of a new or additional
site or building, the transfer of certain departments
or activities or the closure and disposal of certain
premises. So these aspects may well be ‘fait
accompli’ by the time the FM (or the person acting in
that capacity) is involved.
It may be difficult for an FM to insist on early
involvement depending on his/her seniority within
the organisation but the importance of specialist
advice cannot be over-stressed and every effort
should be made to ensure that the ultimate decision-makers
take the FM into their confidence
at the earliest opportunity.
Whatever the reason, moves can be
traumatic and costly to both the organisation
and its staff and customers or patrons.