Organizational Divisions in BIM-Enabled Commercial Construction
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 136, Issue 4
Abstract
Proponents claim that the adoption of building information modeling (BIM) will lead to greater efficiencies through increased collaboration. In this paper, we present research that examines the use of BIM technologies for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire life safety systems (often referred to as MEP) coordination and how the introduction of BIM influences collaboration and communication. Using data from over 12 months of ethnographic observations of the MEP coordination process for two commercial construction projects and interviews with 65 industry leaders across the United States, we find that BIM-enabled projects are often tightly coupled technologically, but divided organizationally. This means that while BIM makes visible the connections among project members, it is not fostering closer collaboration across different companies. We outline the competing obligations to scope, project, and company as one cause for this division. Obligations to an individual scope of work or to a particular company can conflict with project goals. Individual leadership, especially that of the MEP coordinator in the teams we studied, often substitutes for stronger project cohesion and organization. Organizational forces and structures must be accounted for in order for BIM to be implemented successfully.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the University of Washington’s Royalty Research Foundation, the Dean’s Development Award in the College of Built Environments, and the Department of Communication. Research assistance from Naila Crawford, Kristin Gustafson, Christopher Harihar, and Helen Juan is gratefully acknowledged. We send a very heartfelt thank you to the case study participants. We want to thank the organizers and attendees of the 2008 LEAD conference whose inspired dialogue enriched this analysis, and we wish to thank three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 136 • Issue 4 • April 2010
Pages: 459 - 467
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Dec 11, 2008
Accepted: Jun 23, 2009
Published online: Jun 26, 2009
Published in print: Apr 2010
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