Which activity helps identify potential gaps when outsourcing a facility management function?

• A. Understanding current work
• B. Negotiating new salaries
• C. Expanding vendor base
• D. Increasing capital expenditure

Answer: (A)

Understanding current work provides the baseline you need to spot gaps when outsourcing a facility management function. By documenting what is done now, by whom, how often, with what inputs and outputs, and the level of quality achieved, you create a clear map of the existing scope and performance. This baseline lets you see where there are inefficiencies, overlaps, or critical tasks that must be maintained in-house or carefully covered by a vendor. It also helps define what you expect from an outsourcer—service levels, timelines, responsibilities, and how success will be measured—so you can design effective contracts and SLAs. Without this clear picture, you risk missing important duties, duplicating work, or failing to address risks and dependencies.

The other options don’t directly identify gaps in the current function. Negotiating new salaries focuses on costs of labor rather than revealing where the current arrangement falls short. Expanding the vendor base adds options but doesn’t illuminate what gaps exist in the current work. Increasing capital expenditure deals with asset investments rather than the process and service gaps that outsourcing aims to address.