The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) today began accepting responses for its Global Job Task Analysis (GJTA) survey which identifies the knowledge, skills and abilities that comprise the facility management discipline. The survey is open through Feb. 9, 2016 to anyone practicing FM anywhere in the world. It can accessed online at www.ifma.org/gjta.

Driven in part by a powerful global community supported by IFMA, the FM industry has changed dramatically in recent decades. FM professionals are asked and empowered to do more for their organizations than ever before. Because of this, many turn to local, national and global associations to provide the knowledge, training and resources they need to do the job.

Among the direct benefits of IFMA’s previous GJTA, for example, was the establishment of the following 11 key competency areas shared by facility management professionals worldwide: Communication, Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity, Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability, Finance and Business, Human Factors, Leadership and Strategy, Operations and Maintenance, Project Management, Quality, Real Estate and Property Management, and Technology. These skill areas have become the framework for IFMA’s world-class professional development credentials, webinars, event programs and more.

As a truly international association, IFMA is asking FM professionals from around the world to participate in the new survey. The total time to complete the process is between 30-40 minutes, and progress can be saved and resumed as needed. Individual responses are kept strictly confidential. Global participation will help identify worldwide commonalities, as well as regional differences among facility managers.

IFMA is the world's largest and most widely recognized international association for facility management professionals, supporting 24,000 members in 105 countries. The association's members, represented in 134 chapters and 17 councils worldwide, manage more than 37 billion square feet of property and annually purchase more than US$100 billion in products and services. Formed in 1980, IFMA certifies professionals in facility management, conducts research, provides educational programs and produces World Workplace, the world's largest facility management conference and exposition. To join and follow IFMA's social media outlets online, visit the association's LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages. For more information, visit the IFMA press room or www.ifma.org.