“The impetus for developing the series is a recognition of the fact that many facility managers lack the business skills and knowledge required for anyone who wants to have an impact on the so-called ‘C-level,’” says Wendy Loerch, director of education for Trade Press Publishing Corp., publisher of Building Operating Management magazine. One reason that’s true is most facility managers advance through the profession on the basis of their experience in the field and on-the-job results, not because they have MBA degrees. But industry experts say it’s a mistake to discount the principles taught in business school as they relate to facilities management.
The BOMI Institute reports that executive-level facility managers need both business school philosophies and tactical facility management skills. What is most valuable are business principles presented in an industry-specific context, with concrete insights into challenges facing facility management.
The new Master Facility Executive Certificate Series will present executive-level business ideas in the framework of facility issues. It is designed for industry professionals seeking advanced business information specific to facility and property management. The series is divided into six modules. Topics for the modules are: organizational positioning; financial strategy; oversight and cost control; CEO management techniques; mastering negotiations; personal and corporate branding; and leadership.
Each topic will be addressed in a 75-minute Web-based seminar. Before and after the Webcasts, students will receive extensive reading material on the topic; afterward, there will be a 30-minute online question-and-answer period. A cumulative, timed, online exam will test the student’s knowledge of the material presented in each module. The learning modules will explore high-level development topics including:
• Understanding the DNA of the company
• Learning how stocks, bonds and financing affect the organization
• Establishing customer value “linkages”
• Building and maintaining credibility
• Ethical decision making
“Abiding by the ‘FM mission’ alone will not guarantee the opportunity to move up in an organization,” says Michael Sallas, BOMI Institute’s vice president of education. “Facility and property executives with a desire to improve their leadership and management abilities must develop a deeper understanding of how to analyze and evaluate complex business issues. When they’re in the trenches, it’s often difficult to devote time to studying business school textbooks.”
“The Master Facility Executive Certificate Series is an educational opportunity designed to bridge MBA-style teachings and the FM mission,” says Loerch.
Completion of all six seminar modules is required for certification, although students can enroll in individual modules. As the series grows, it is intended that the Master Facility Executive certification will be widely recognized as an industry standard and mark of merit for executive-level facility managers. According to Loerch, continuing education for executive officers will have a positive trickle-down effect. “Studies have shown that continuing education at the management levels benefits the company financially by improving job performances organization-wide.”
Research documents the global need for strong strategic leadership talent. The National Center for Education Statistics predicts that enrollment in degree-granting institutions will grow significantly in the next decade. In fact, the organization foresees a rise in enrollments by 16 percent in people under 25 and an increase of 19 percent in people 25 and over before the year 2014. For facility managers and executives on the job right now, that means more competition for leadership roles from both younger, new professionals and those who are continuing their education as post-graduate work.
Although programs like the Master Facility Executive Series do not grant degrees, they do provide accredited recognition based on specified industry-specific learning accomplishments. Facility managers who realize the value of advancing their understanding of strategic and creative leadership dynamics will be better equipped to compete in both the job market and in the commercial market, ultimately yielding benefits like improved occupant satisfaction.
To enroll or learn more about the Master Facility Executive Series, visit www.masterfacilityexec.com. Online sessions start Jan. 24.
