In evaluating a facility department's strategy, the initial action should be to:

• A. Set goals
• B. Gather information
• C. Prepare budgets
• D. Review standards

Answer: (B)

In evaluating a facility department's strategy, the first step is to gather information to establish a factual baseline. Collecting data on current operations provides a clear picture of assets, maintenance backlogs, energy usage and costs, service levels, safety and regulatory compliance, and stakeholder needs. This baseline lets you see what’s working well and where gaps lie, so any goals, budgets, or standard practices can be realistic and targeted. Without gathering information first, subsequent decisions would be guesswork and risk misalignment with actual conditions. After you have the data, you can analyze it to identify priorities, then set meaningful goals, draft budgets that support those goals, and review or update standards to reflect observed practices and expectations.