Your assignment

Ms. Katz, the building manager has asked for your advice. The larger R&D tenant says that it will not renew the lease if the security situation is not improved. The small R&D tenant has had their attorney write the building management that they will consider them liable in the event of any significant property losses due to theft.

The property manager explains that the owners have expressed a willingness to pay for some modest upgrades, but they are unlikely to approve state-of-the-art security retrofits that would reduce their income significantly. They recently purchased the building with the idea that expenses would be reduced, not increased, to yield a greater profit. Rents are currently slightly below market values for the area.

As described in the case study, write a memo that provides your recommendations to the building management team and owners. Include improvements to the building security and measures that the building manager should recommend to each of the two complaining tenants.

There is not a single best solution to the goal conflicts in this assignment. Therefore, be sure to justify these measures taking into account the unique needs of the building owners and ALL of the building’s tenants, not just the R&D tenants. Keep you recommendations brief (managers don’t like to read long reports and don’t bother to describe the building—the owners know what they have). There is no need to describe features where you do not recommend any changes. Be sure to carefully explain the reasons behind your suggestions.

For ideas about your recommendations, read the case study, and then read (reread) the Craighead chapter and the Broder security survey checklist.