Facility management is a multifaceted field crucial for aligning organizational goals with day-to-day operations, emphasizing individual well-being, productivity, and quality of life. To elevate the profession, the Professional Facility Management (ProFM) credential was established, uniting industry stakeholders and based on the ProFM Body of Knowledge.
In 2017, the Professional Facility Management Institute (ProFMI) was founded by FM organizations and professionals aiming to advance careers and standards in the field. The ProFMI Commission was formed to oversee this endeavor, defining essential knowledge and competencies through extensive research involving global FM professionals.
The ProFM Body of Knowledge outlines 19 functional FM knowledge areas and 5 cross-functional competencies, serving as a guide for developing skills crucial for success in facility management and enhancing workplace effectiveness.
ProFM Functional FM Knowledge Areas
Through the ProFM research study, the broad scope of processes, services, and activities were categorized into four key knowledge domains. These were identified as the core capability areas to accomplish the mission of FM:
Operations and Maintenance:
- Technical Services.
- Occupant Services.
- Work Management.
- Utility Management.
- Space Management.
Business Management:
- Human Capital
- Leadership Skills
- Financial Management
- Contract Management
- Procurement
- Real Estate
Risk Management:
- Compliance & Standards
- Environmental Health & Safety
- Security
- Emergency Management
Asset Management:
- Project Management
- Strategic Planning
- Capital Planning
- Construction
Each knowledge domain is broken into essential competencies needed to ensure the capabilities. Descriptions of activities and required behaviors are linked to each competency.
ProFM Cross-Functional Competencies
Effective facility managers must acquire certain technical knowledge and develop many related skills and abilities. However, additional cross-functional competencies are required to facilitate the application of the knowledge and skills. These competencies are valuable without regard to level of experience, the types of FM disciplines managers are engaged in, the size and complexity of their facilities, or the types of organizations in which they work.
These “competency threads” apply to job-related behaviors and should be a key consideration when conducting any FM tasks:
- Communication.
- Sustainability.
- Quality.
- Innovation.
- Collaboration.
This dual approach for FM success goes beyond the traditional definition of facility management to reflect all of the knowledge, skills, and behaviors required of today’s facility professionals. This success is dependent on not only what a facility manager knows but how that knowledge is applied.
Organization of the ProFM BOK
The ProFM Body of Knowledge (BOK) is organized by the five cross-functional competencies and 19 functional FM knowledge areas required of today’s facility professionals. For each element, the following information is provided:
- An overview of the domain area.
- A definition of the competency or functional area within each domain.
- Key concepts describing foundational knowledge for that area.
- Proficiency indicators that identify the observable behaviors for measuring competence.
All of these competency traits are acquired and developed over time. They can be improved and honed through education and practice.
Learn more about the ProFM Credential here.
