| dc.description.abstract | This study examines the organization and execution
of building maintenance works in the Ministry of Works
Hotising an~ Physical Planning with special reference
to Na i.r-oLb Province with the objectives of determining
whether the maintenance management practices employed
by the ministry are efficient and effective. The study
therefore examines the suitcbility of the organization
structure and the mariagen.e nt, process in executing
'build'ingmaintenance wor-ks.
It is divided into six chapters with the first
chapter devoted to introductory formalities and the
laying of the foundation to the study. In the main,
it discusses the' significant role of the built
environment in man's day-to-day activities and the vast
sums of money spent on putting up this environment.
The study then observes that despite this significant
role and the vast sums of mon ey spent, t.hi s capi tal
investment is generally neglected and apparently left -,
to decay at wil~. From there on the study highlights
the importance of building maintenance arid what
building maj.ntel'l.2LCmeanagement is.
The ministry has been chosen because it ii the
largest single organization w1.th a long established
.- . building mai nt.cnance unit. ..Jt -was further decided.
to iestrict the study to Nairobi Province due to time
factor 2nd because the practice~ of the M~nistry are
similar throughout the republic. Furthermore Nairobi
(vi)
Province is the Minjstry's 'nerve centre' in building
maintenance accounting for about 41% of its budget.
The second chapter is devoted to building a
th~oretical model for the ministry's Nairobi Province
paying attention to its size, the production
technology of building maintenance and the 'environment
under whicb the ministry -operates. Chapter three
and four contain the case study being the findin~s of
,I .
interviews, que st i.onnair-es, searches of the
j
c0rre~pondence filesJ reports and the building
organization and operations manual (BOOM). 'I'he study
witnessed an organ~zation structure not suitabl~ to
the organ,ization and overcentralization of authority.
This overcentral~zation and poor structure has led
to lengthy procedures and lack of effective control
over service and cOTponent department~.
The data collectod from the middle of October 1984
to middle of January 1985 is then tabulated in chapter
five and analysed. Generally the data indicates poor
performance in the organization and execution of
building mainteriance works. The data reveals further
that despite the deficiencies noted in chapter three
and four, the management does not effectively employ
maintenance tools in order to determine the direction
of performance. The existing records are not evaluated,
compari6ons between alternatives not done to determine
which one offers more advantages over the other.
Finances are seen to lacking but even the little
funds voted for maintenance is at times surrendered
unused while tte buildings continue to deteriorate.
Chapter sjx is devoted to the summary of the
findings and recommendations of the study. It is
and accountability should be pushed down to the
provinces and the depots to get rid of the maze of'
procedures that water down efficiency and effectiveness. | en |
