Innovation as a facilities management tool

In recent years greater attention has been paid to improving the level of understanding the subject of innovation. Most work has concentrated on the numerous external and internal factors that are associated with generic innovation but more recently some attention has been paid to innovation in the management of multiple supplier contracts. The importance of understanding the concept of innovation is beginning to be realised as the flawed logic that innovation is inextricably linked to information technology (IT) solutions are exposed. This paper explores the concept of generic innovation and suggests that these concepts apply equally within the FM role driving its role as a dynamic business tool. The paper concludes that the role of innovation management in FM is not about producing innovative solutions but about the provision of a creative environment in which solutions can be conceived, developed and applied.