The research involves a critical examination of the role of operational facilities as a business resource and the implications this has on the practice of Real Estate Asset Management (REAM) within an organisational setting. The research objectives were operationalised by investigating three related organisational variables - structure, processes and competencies. The research provides models and frameworks that justify the tools and competencies required for the continuous aligning of operational real estate assets to changing business dynamics. The main findings reflect a situation in which organisations are looking to optimise all its business resources. The research proposes an integrated resource planning framework that incorporates the requirements of three principal business resources: people, technology and real estate. REAM is considered as an integrative planning and management process that considers the outcomes in operational facilities and services provision as matching the business requirements to consciously create the desired workplace environment.