Empirical scrutiny of the human resource management features for effective maintenance management of educational buildings

This paper presents the findings of an empirical assessment of human resources management features required to effectively maintain higher education institution (HEI) buildings in South Africa. This was done to improve the maintenance management of HEI buildings in the country for better performance of buildings. The study adopted a post-positivism philosophical perspective using a quantitative research approach with questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. The questionnaire survey was distributed to the users of academic buildings and heads of maintenance departments in six HEIs in Gauteng, South Africa. Data collected were analysed using mean item score, Kruskal-Wallis H-test, and confirmatory factor analysis. The study found that the availability of skilled and experienced personnel, adequate staffing of the maintenance department, effective occupational health and safety practices of maintenance staff, and top management support for training are key to the effective maintenance of HEIs buildings. This study offers a theoretical contribution to the existing discourse on the maintenance of educational buildings by exploring the human resources management dimension. This aspect has gained little attention in recent times.