1. DEVELOPMENT
Assessment
Planning
Design
Reading Blueprints
Funding
Construction

2. chapter 4
Assessment

3. Importance of Assessment
Assessment is commonly practiced in leisure services.
Knowing what users want guides recreation agencies in determining what to provide.
(continued)

4. Importance of Assessment (continued)
Assessment isn’t only about understanding user needs, it is also about determining if it is feasible for the agency and within the scope of its mission to provide the product.
Assessment is an important part of determining what programs a recreation agency will offer. It is also important in facility design and development.

5. Assessment Methods
Several methods ranging from very formal to very informal can be used to assess the need for a facility development project.
Formal methods can take the form of a needs assessment, feasibility study, or prospectus.
These assessment tools involve considerable research and are objective in nature (continued)

6. Assessment Methods (continued)
Informal methods used in assessing facility needs are more subjective and may include informally gathering facts that reflect facility needs through observing user behaviors or having casual conversations with facility users.

7. Influencing Factors in Facility Assessment
Influencing factors in facility assessment are the issues that need to be reviewed and documented when observing concerns at an existing facility or recognizing a void that a new facility could fill.
The more serious and potentially expansive the project, the greater attention these factors will require in order to influence desired results.

8. Influencing Factors in Facility Assessment - Safety
A fundamental requirement of any recreation facility manager is to provide a safe environment for all users and employees.
A safe environment includes a place where risk of harm has been minimized as much as possible.
When assessing facility safety, it should be determined if the design or use of the facility creates the potential for injury.

9. Influencing Factors in Facility Assessment - Satisfaction
Satisfaction is the degree to which the expectations of facility users have been met.
The degree of satisfaction among users can be critical to the success of the core product.
A perceived lack of quality or a bad experience while using a facility can negatively influence users’ satisfaction.

10. Influencing Factors in Facility Assessment - Participation
Participation refers to the number of people using a facility.
Some recreation facilities become so popular that they attract more users than they were designed to accommodate.
Facility managers should recognize when usage creates a sense of overcrowding, which can have a negative impact on the experience of users.

11. Participation High level of use  creates a crowded condition
 discomfort where the capacity of the facility is being pushed beyond acceptable levels.
 negatively affect appearance of facility due to overuse
 may require increased maintenance and repairs
 can negatively impact revenue generation

12. Influencing Factors in Facility Assessment - Efficiency
Efficiency relates to how well management uses a facility and other resources in maximizing revenue opportunities while minimizing expenses.
Efficiency also involves allocating space to allow for maximum use without decreasing customer satisfaction.
Often the design of a facility can cause problems with the efficient provision of the core product or core product extensions.

13. Efficiency
How well management is providing the product in relation to the intended design and planned use.
Do the facilities meet the needs of the participant and employees?
Is space being used as intended, or, do modifications need to be made to improve product delivery?

14. Influencing Factors in Facility Assessment - Comparison
All recreation facility managers, whether in the private or public sector, are involved in comparing their product with those of their competitors.
This comparison, often called benchmarking, is initiated so that management can ascertain what products their competitors are providing and how well they are providing them.
There are many aspects of facility operations to compare, but the most important is determining how the facility measures up in space functionality and appearance.

15. Influencing Factors in Facility Assessment - Modernization
Many facilities are constructed with state-of-the-art materials and furnished with the most up-to-date equipment.
Over time, however, they become outdated as new technology creates improved options in a variety of facility applications.
Recreation facility managers should be attentive to these new options and plan and budget for necessary improvements.

16. Influencing Techniques in Facility Assessment
There are additional techniques that recreation facility managers can use to generate support for the renovation or construction of a facility.
These techniques can help persuade key administrators, board members, financial officers, and politicians to recognize the circumstances that warrant attention and response.

17. Influencing Techniques in Facility Assessment – Site Visits
One of the best ways to bring about support for facility projects is to take a representative group of users and administrators to visit existing facilities with problems or other facilities that may become a model for a new facility.
These site visits are usually done in the early stages of development or renovation.
They are particularly effective because personal experience and a visual assessment of facility problems or of a state-of-the-art facility is a great way to create insight for what needs to be accomplished.

18. Influencing Techniques in Facility Assessment – Surveys
Surveys have traditionally been the most common method for obtaining information.
An internal survey can be used to obtain user or employee feedback regarding the facility.
An external survey can be used to obtain comparative information from facilities with similar products.

19. Influencing Techniques in Facility Assessment – Focus Groups
A focus group consists of people who represent various segments of users and stakeholders.
These users are simply asked to share their thoughts on subjects related to facility development.
Focus groups generally range in size from 5 to 12 participants.

20. Influencing Techniques in Facility Assessment – Comments and Opinions
The comments and opinions of facility users and employees are important to consider when assessing user satisfaction.
Both users and employees offer a distinct perspective of a facility that management does not have.
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21. Influencing Techniques in Facility Assessment – Comments and Opinions (continued)
User and employee opinions should be solicited in several ways.
Comment cards and suggestion or complaint forms should be made available for users and employees to express their concerns.
Online options should also be provided as an alternative to written forms.
Opinion polls are designed to obtain user opinions regarding satisfaction with the condition of a facility or the perceived need for a new facility.

22. Influencing Techniques in Facility Assessment – Petitions
A petition is a document stating that people are in agreement on a certain issue.
The petition usually has a formal statement that helps demonstrate interest in a project.
Petitioning is a common form of creating awareness of the need for a project, especially if the user has an interest or a stake in the facility.

23. Influencing Techniques in Facility Assessment – History
Recreation facility managers should know the history of the facilities for which they are responsible.
Important information regarding the age and condition of the structural systems and construction materials are crucial information that affect the need for timely replacement or renovation of infrastructure.

24. Influencing Techniques in Facility Assessment –Asset Management
Facility managers should document when materials and equipment are installed and then budget accordingly for when the products or materials need to be replaced.
The concept of documenting the age and predicted life span of facility components is called asset management.

25. Initial Proposal
An initial proposal is a formal way of communicating the need for a facility improvement or the construction of a new facility.
This written proposal is developed by the party creating a case for the facility project, usually a facility manager.
The proposal is typically delivered to administrators, owners, investors, governing bodies, or other agencies that control the funding for a facility project.
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26. Initial Proposal (continued)
When drafting an initial proposal, it is necessary to think in terms of:
Need or Title
Recommendation
Rationale
Justification
Funding
Impact
Conclusion

27. Assignment
What are some assessment methods typically used for facilities?
What are some influencing factors that contribute to the need for a recreation facility?
What are some influencing techniques that can be used to create a sense of awareness/need for a recreation facility?
What are the components of an “initial proposal” and how/why is one used?