The research process is structured in four macro phases: analysis, design, application, collection and critical synthesis of findings.
The analysis phase consists of literature review (critical examination of books, published research articles, conference proceedings, M.sc. and PhD Thesis, guides and directives related to the research field), data collected and analysis.
WP1a Literature review. The relevant documents were identified by different resources such as: Emerald Insight, ResearchGate, Web of Science, Google Scholar or Scopus.
The bibliography has been collected through two different methods. Firstly, the research started studying the generaltopic Enhancement Strategies for Public Properties by an extensive web research for keywords. After organizing a general bibliography, it has been improved by links, bibliographies and citations contained in the documents analyzed.
The combination of different methods makes it possible to organize information into more specific and circumscribed topics, to identify research group, and public and private associations undertaking topics.
The first phase findings consider the following subjects:
- Iongoing enhancement strategies and tools; Lp Mp
- different approaches to Public Real Estate Management (PREM) in national and international context;
- comparison between PREM and CREM.
WP1b Data Collected and Analysis phase. The analysis considered the Italian legislation and then, Agenzia del Demanio data.
The aim of this work-package is to identify the problem statement by collecting quantitative data such as number of buildings and space used, types of public administrations and their main activities, cost of lease etc.; defining the making decision process: time, actors, flow-chart, communication, output, by ISO 9000 process flowchart and mechanism of process mapping management; detecting the tools and criteria adopted.
According to \citep*{articlen} case studies are one of the best ways to build theories. This phase involves the analysis of national and international experiences both completed and under construction, in order to identify key factors: the decision making process, costs, timing, actors, tools are used to make decision.
For this specific topic, the choice of case studies is "mandatory" because of the limited number of experience gained and the scarcity of material available. Currently, Chieti Public Administrations rationalization plan (2014) and Valle d'Aosta Region rationalization plan (2015), Municipality of London rationalization plan (2010) are selected for the national and international context, respectively.
The design phase consists of:
WP2a Structuring and setting guidelines by CREM experiences. According to \citet{articlea} the introduction of management expertise from the private sector would allow more substantial savings although it requires a radical re-think about how public services are delivered and administered.
The report "Property Efficiency Solutions" (2010) suggests to adopt private standard of occupancy in order to obtain considerable savings, thanks to more efficiently space use. And furthermore, they claim that substantially greater savings are achievable through deeper and accelerated implementation of best practice approaches to asset management.
In addition, according to \citep*{articleo} he analytical techniques, accounting tools, and practical approaches of CREM are generally applicable to most publicly owned real property. This demonstrate the importance of an asset-oriented vision, based on the balance sheet approach (as opposed to the more traditional budgeting approach), for municipal finance.
The study of CREM's experiences is divided into two categories: experiences reported in international literature and national case studies of rationalization of spaces.
WP2b Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA). According to \citet{articleb}, the multi-criteria analysis has significantly influenced the public choice processes. Starting from the analytical phase, which providing for the selection of design alternatives, continuing with an - estimated impact - assessment and so, of the alternatives. The approach includes a wide variety of techniques: make explicit the contributions of the different choices in the different criteria or attributes.
It can be of support to the decision maker to identify the best option among the various possible alternatives. MCDA is ex ante and ex post assessment useful for: selection of the most suitable strategy and assessment the project impacts.
The method involves: selection criteria (qualitative and quantitative) divided into clusters, allocation of values and priorities.
WP3 Method application. The research also includes an experimental phase, which will involve a public administration (with institutional functions in cost of lease) and to apply the methodology to a real case.
WP4 Synthesis and Results. The last phase of the research will show the results of the application of the method: the technical and economic feasibility of the rationalization plan, its implementations, its impact on decision-making process or any alternative strategies to pursue.
MAIN FINDINGS