The formal definition of Asset Management in the ISO 55000 standard is “…… the coordinated activity of an organization to realize value from assets”.
This focuses on the value obtainable from assets and their use, not just ‘managing them’. So it is much more than just caring for assets (maintenance). Similarly, it is more than buying and selling assets, as implied by the financial world in relation to the management of an investment portfolio. The focus on value creation or realisation is also evident in how we recognize what an asset it in the first place:
“An asset is an item, thing or entity that has a potential or actual value to an organization” and “Assets exist to provide value to the Organization and its Stakeholders“. (ISO55000)
The assets can take many forms – physical equipment and infrastructure, money and credit, or more intangible things like information, reputation or intellectual property. In all cases they are assets because they have, or offer potential, value. And, through asset management (over their whole life cycle) such value can be realised.