Classifying FM organisations using pattern recognition

Purpose – To demonstrate the unintended negative results of the current rationale for classifying client FM organisations and suggest a classification system that can systematically group FM organisations.Design/methodology/approach – Develops a classification model consisting of ten patterns built on the suggestions from the previous empirical studies for client FM organisations. It then applies these patterns onto 22 in‐house FM organisations in the UK using the pattern recognition's unsupervised clustering for measuring the similarities in the sample population. This results in a detailed examination of the applicability and the validity of the classification system.Findings – Three classes were found, two of which (Class 1 and 3) include mixed market sectors, while the other involves only healthcare FM organisations. The features of these classes are explained and the further use of the classification system is demonstrated and discussed.Research limitations/implications – The sample population includ...

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