Physical asset management practices in the Saudi public sector

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the characteristics of the current asset management (AM) practices across the Saudi public sector (SPS). Design/methodology/approach The study uses a mixture of inductive and deductive logic, including, at the outset, developing a framework tool to assess the SPS using thematic analysis. The framework is based on seven well-known international AM standards and guidelines. Later, a structured interview with 196 items is used to capture characteristics of SPS AM practices. Univariate and interpretive analyses were performed. Findings AM practices across the SPS are characterised by the following: in the majority of ministries, practices are below expectations; performance indicators are unrealistic and incomprehensive; public servants lack awareness of AM practices; the majority of the public sector overlooks the existence of professional standards; policies are not consistent across the sector; and finally, there is an over-reliance on public servants’ experience. Research limitations/implications Policy implications – current AM practices across the SPS need to be established, in particular by introducing policies and professional standards. Originality/value Physical assets are vital resources for organisations and, in turn, countries. There are no extant studies about AM practices across the SPS, and thus the evident need for such studies to develop current SPS knowledge, particularly given the notable increase in the country’s physical assets since its emergence and the formal AM practice development worldwide.