Chapter 5. Exploring Existing Gaps in Maintenance Models and Frameworks

Research gaps refer to knowledge that is yet to be explored partially or in its entirety. In this study, a research gap is defined as new constructs that are explored together with other common constructs that have not been conceptualised together before. The purpose of this chapter is to examine the identified gaps in the literature that have not yet been explored with other constructs; they include stakeholder coordination and employee participation. This chapter explores each research gap individually, along with the theories that underpin them. Stakeholder coordination as the first research gap was underpinned by Donaldson and Preston’s stakeholder theory and relational coordination theory. Employee participation used the conceptualisation of autonomous maintenance ( AM ) and the theory of participative decision-making ( PDM ) to stimulate the participation of employees in sustainable maintenance for government office buildings in emerging economies, a decentralised management strategy was adopted to promote employee participation. The outcomes of the examination of the two research gaps confirmed their inclusion in the conceptualisation of sustainable maintenance strategies for government office buildings in emerging economies.