Defining facilities management.

(From New Straits Times (Malaysia))

Byline: Khairil Anhar

IF a property manager is responsible for the overall management of a building and its facilities, including servicing tenants and collecting rent, what does a facilities manager do? Though not quite apparent to the layman, there is a difference in the tasks and duties between the two.

According to those in the profession, property management generally covers leasing, public relations and the day-to-day front-desk operations of a building. Facilities management, however, covers what practitioners describe as "hard" and "soft" services.

"Hard services" include tasks such as ensuring a …