A prototype of high-rise residential management system: a case study for Seroja apartment / Nurhaziani Hazemi

Residential high-rises are unique properties that differ from landed properties such as bungalows or terrace houses. They are unique insofar as, after the properties have been occupied, facilities must be jointly managed by residents. The continuous growth of high-rise residential buildings specifies that there is a need for an effective ownership and property management system to instil a valuable living experience among high-rise residents in this country. An effective and efficient property management system will increase the property values and contributes to a quality living environment. Additionally, a successful property management is a demanding activity which requires relevant understanding, ability and appropriate technical and organisational skills as well as resources to successfully maintain and improve property value through to its obsolescence. However, in most of the cases, the residential management office still practices the conventional approaches of communication. The day-to-day tasks were handled manually, and all the work decided in meetings, maintenance bills, and contact number of members were written on the papers. Later, this information was stored through manual filing methods. This method thus causes a problem with maintaining and managing their customers and their own records. The aim of this study to develop mobile app that supports streamline information with assistive features to improve communication and information sharing for high-rise residential management in Malaysia. Additionally, the immense growth in the mobile technology usage specifically consumer-facing property technology exposed that smartphone has become a universal communication device that offers access to efficacious computational software. This aim is achieved by answering three research objectives, including identifying user requirements, design and develop the artefact and evaluate the artefact. The study was conducted together with LT Sdn Bhd, the property management company responsible in managing and maintaining property related matters of Seroja Apartment. The study is employed Design Thinking as a research methodology. Artefact evaluation was conducted using Think Aloud Protocol Testing with ten (10) participants, divided into two (2) target group namely committee and resident. We proposed an adopted conceptual framework for property management based on the sustainable indicator dimensions for property management and applicable features from existing mobile apps to develop the artefact. The conceptual framework was proposed based on literature review and nature of work observed on site. Lastly, the study successfully validated the proposed adopted framework against the artefact.