Toward an Efficient Construction Process: What Drives BIM Professionals to Collaborate in BIM-Enabled Projects
Publication: Journal of Management in Engineering
Volume 38, Issue 4
Abstract
As one of the emerging digital technologies, building information modeling (BIM) has been increasingly used in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry of many countries. One of the core benefits associated with BIM is facilitating collaboration among project teams, thereby improving information sharing and project performance by providing BIM-based construction networks (BbCNs). Nevertheless, it is still challenging to ensure an effective collaboration process in BIM-enabled projects. Several studies have investigated the factors that influence collaboration in BIM-enabled projects; however, most of these studies focus on technical matters of BIM, while the perspectives of socio-organization and processes have received less attention and are still in the conceptual stage, especially for the role of people management. Thus, an exploratory study was proposed to explore how key factors influence the professionals’ willingness to collaborate in BIM-enabled projects. A total of 10 hypotheses were established based on literature review and expert verification. Following that, a questionnaire survey was administered in China to solicit the opinions of 273 BIM professionals for data collection. The hypotheses were then examined on the basis of the predictive capacity of regression analysis (binary logistic regression), with the findings validated using neural network analysis (multilayer perceptron). It was found that seven independent variables have a statistically significant influence on professionals’ willingness to collaborate in BIM-enabled projects, namely, professional knowledge, skill, training, investment, BIM tools, BIM ownership, and standards and regulations. Among them, the variable of professional knowledge was ranked as the most influential factor. While extending the existing knowledge of literature, the findings of this study also deliver insights for stakeholders by enhancing their understanding of the BIM collaboration process and its influence factors.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or codes that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This research work is financially supported by RDF-17-02-60 and RDF-16-01-24 projects of Xi’an Jiaotong–Liverpool University.
References
Abdirad, H. 2021. “Managing digital integration routines in engineering firms: Cases of disruptive BIM cloud collaboration protocols.” J. Manage. Eng. 38 (1): 05021012. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000988.
Abd Jamil, A. H., and M. S. Fathi. 2020. “Enhancing BIM-based information interoperability: Dispute resolution from legal and contractual perspectives.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 146 (7): 05020007. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001868.
Akinwande, M. O., H. G. Dikko, and A. Samson. 2015. “Variance inflation factor: As a condition for the inclusion of suppressor variable(s) in regression analysis.” Open J. Stat. 5 (7): 754. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojs.2015.57075.
Alreshidi, E., M. Mourshed, and Y. Rezgui. 2017. “Factors for effective BIM governance.” J. Build. Eng. 10 (Mar): 89–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2017.02.006.
Alreshidi, E., M. Mourshed, and Y. Rezgui. 2018. “Requirements for cloud-based BIM governance solutions to facilitate team collaboration in construction projects.” Requirements Eng. 23 (1): 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00766-016-0254-6.
Assaad, R., I. H. El-adaway, A. H. El Hakea, M. J. Parker, T. I. Henderson, C. R. Salvo, and M. O. Ahmed. 2020. “Contractual perspective for BIM utilization in US construction projects.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 146 (12): 04020128. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001927.
Azhar, S. 2011. “Building information modeling (BIM): Trends, benefits, risks, and challenges for the AEC industry.” Leadersh. Manage. Eng. 11 (3): 241–252. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)LM.1943-5630.0000127.
Aziz, N. D., A. H. Nawawi, and N. R. M. Ariff. 2016. “Building information modelling (BIM) in facilities management: Opportunities to be considered by facility managers.” Procedia Social Behav. Sci. 234 (Oct): 353–362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.10.252.
Bilal, M., L. O. Oyedele, J. Qadir, K. Munir, S. O. Ajayi, O. O. Akinade, H. A. Owolabi, H. A. Alaka, and M. Pasha. 2016. “Big data in the construction industry: A review of present status, opportunities, and future trends.” Adv. Eng. Inf. 30 (3): 500–521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aei.2016.07.001.
Boktor, J., A. Hanna, and C. C. Menassa. 2014. “State of practice of building information modeling in the mechanical construction industry.” J. Manage. Eng. 30 (1): 78–85. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000176.
Bouchlaghem, D., H. Shang, J. Whyte, and A. Ganah. 2005. “Visualization in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC).” Autom. Constr. 14 (3): 287–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2004.08.012.
Brito, D. M. D., E. D. A. M. Ferreira, and D. B. Costa. 2021. “Framework for building information modeling adoption based on critical success factors from Brazilian public organizations.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 147 (7): 05021004. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0002086.
Bryman, A. 2012. Social research methods. 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press.
Chan, A. P. C., D. Scott, and A. P. L. Chan. 2004. “Factors affecting the success of a construction project.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 130 (1): 153–155. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2004)130:1(153).
Chan, D. W., T. O. Olawumi, and A. M. Ho. 2019. “Perceived benefits of and barriers to building information modelling (BIM) implementation in construction: The case of Hong Kong.” J. Build. Eng. 25 (Sep): 100764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2019.100764.
Chen, C., Q. I. WangMartek, I. Martek, and H. Li. 2016. “International market selection model for large Chinese contractors.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 142 (10): 04016044. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001122.
Cleary, S. 1999. “The relationship between firm investment and financial status.” J. Finance 54 (2): 673–692. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-1082.00121.
Dainty, A., R. Leiringer, S. Fernie, and C. Harty. 2017. “BIM and the small construction firm: A critical perspective.” Build. Res. Inf. 45 (6): 696–709. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2017.1293940.
Davies, K., D. McMeel, and S. Wilkinson. 2015. “Soft skill requirements in a BIM project team.” In Proc., 32nd CIB W78 Information Technology for Construction Conf., edited by J. Beetz, L. Van Berlo, T. Hartmann, and R. Amor. Auckland, New Zealand: Univ. of Auckland.
Delavar, M., G. T. Bitsuamlak, J. K. Dickinson, and L. M. F. Costa. 2020. “Automated BIM-based process for wind engineering design collaboration.” Build. Simul. 13 (2): 457–474. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-019-0589-2.
El Ammari, K., and A. Hammad. 2019. “Remote interactive collaboration in facilities management using BIM-based mixed reality.” Autom. Constr. 107 (Nov): 102940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2019.102940.
Elghaish, F., S. Abrishami, M. R. Hosseini, S. Abu-Samra, and M. Gaterell. 2019. “Integrated project delivery with BIM: An automated EVM-based approach.” Autom. Constr. 106 (Oct): 102907. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2019.102907.
Elhendawi, A., H. Omar, E. Elbeltagi, and A. Smith. 2019. “Practical approach for paving the way to motivate BIM non-users to adopt BIM.” Int. J. 2 (2): 1–22. https://doi.org/10.54216/IJBES.020201.
Field, A. 2013. Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics. London: SAGE.
Gaur, S., and A. Tawalare. 2021. “Investigating the role of BIM in stakeholder management: Evidence from a metro-rail project.” J. Manage. Eng. 38 (1): 05021013. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000979.
Gurevich, U., R. Sacks, and P. Shrestha. 2017. “BIM adoption by public facility agencies: Impacts on occupant value.” Build. Res. Inf. 45 (6): 610–630. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2017.1289029.
Hair, J. F., W. C. Black, B. J. Babin, and R. E. Anderson. 2016. Multivariate data analysis. Essex, UK: Pearson Education.
Hambros, S. G. 1999. Public–private partnerships for highways: Experience, structure, financing, applicability and comparative assessment. Ottawa: Transportation and Highway Safety.
He, Q., G. Wang, L. Luo, Q. Shi, J. Xie, and X. Meng. 2017. “Mapping the managerial areas of building information modeling (BIM) using scientometric analysis.” Int. J. Project Manage. 35 (4): 670–685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2016.08.001.
Hooper, M. 2015. “BIM standardization efforts—The case of Sweden.” J. Inf. Technol. Constr. 20 (21): 332–346.
Hosmer, D. W., Jr., S. Lemeshow, and R. X. Sturdivant. 2013. Vol. 398 of Applied logistic regression. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Hosseini, M. R., R. Roelvink, E. Papadonikolaki, D. J. Edwards, and E. Pärn. 2018. “Integrating BIM into facility management: Typology matrix of information handover requirements.” Int. J. Build. Pathol. Adapt. 36 (1): 2–14. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-08-2017-0034.
Hutzschenreuter, T., I. Kleindienst, and S. Lange. 2014. “Added psychic distance stimuli and MNE performance.” J. Int. Manage. 20 (1): 38–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intman.2013.02.003.
Jin, R., C. M. Hancock, L. Tang, and D. Wanatowski. 2017. “BIM investment, returns, and risks in China’s AEC industries.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 143 (12): 04017089. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001408.
Jing, Y., Y. Bian, Z. Hu, L. Wang, and X. Q. S. Xie. 2018. “Deep learning for drug design: An artificial intelligence paradigm for drug discovery in the big data era.” AAPS J. 20 (3): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1208/s12248-018-0210-0.
Kalantari, S., M. M. Shepley, Z. K. Rybkowski, and J. Bryant. 2017. “Designing for operational efficiency: Facility managers’ perspectives on how their knowledge can be better incorporated during design.” Arch. Eng. Des. Manage. 13 (6): 457–478. https://doi.org/10.1080/17452007.2017.1348333.
Keskin, B., B. Salman, and B. Ozorhon. 2020. “Airport project delivery within BIM-centric construction technology ecosystems.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage. 28 (2): 530–548. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-11-2019-0625.
Khosrowshahi, F. 2017. “Building information modelling (BIM) a paradigm shift in construction.” In Building information modelling, building performance, design and smart construction, 47–64. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
Lawluvy, Y. K., F. Guo, and K. Wang. 2022. “A framework for assessing strategies to combat individuals’ resistance to technological innovation in the construction industry.” In Proc., Construction Research Congress 2022. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Li, B., A. Akintoye, P. J. Edwards, and C. Hardcastle. 2005. “Critical success factors for PPP/PFI projects in the UK construction industry.” Construct. Manage. Econ. 23 (5): 459–471. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446190500041537.
Liao, L., and E. A. L. Teo. 2018. “Organizational change perspective on people management in BIM implementation in building projects.” J. Manage. Eng. 34 (3): 04018008. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000604.
Liu, Y., S. Van Nederveen, and M. Hertogh. 2017. “Understanding effects of BIM on collaborative design and construction: An empirical study in China.” Int. J. Project Manage. 35 (4): 686–698. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2016.06.007.
Lu, Y., L. Luo, H. Wang, Y. Le, and Q. Shi. 2015. “Measurement model of project complexity for large-scale projects from task and organization perspective.” Int. J. Project Manage. 33 (3): 610–622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2014.12.005.
Manderson, A. D., M. C. Jefferies, and G. J. Brewer. 2017. “An analysis of the integration of building information modelling (BIM) in standard construction contracts.” In Integrated building information modelling, edited by W. Peng, L. Haijiang and W. Xiangyu, 82–101. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates: Bentham Science Publishers.
Matthews, J., P. E. Love, J. Mewburn, C. Stobaus, and C. Ramanayaka. 2018. “Building information modelling in construction: Insights from collaboration and change management perspectives.” Prod. Plan. Control 29 (3): 202–216. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2017.1407005.
Merschbrock, C., M. R. Hosseini, I. Martek, M. Arashpour, and G. Mignone. 2018. “Collaborative role of sociotechnical components in BIM-based construction networks in two hospitals.” J. Manage. Eng. 34 (4): 05018006. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000605.
Merschbrock, C., and B. E. Munkvold. 2014. “How is building information modeling influenced by project complexity? A cross-case analysis of e-collaboration performance in building construction.” Int. J. e-Collab. 10 (2): 20–39. https://doi.org/10.4018/ijec.2014040102.
Mignone, G., M. R. Hosseini, N. Chileshe, and M. Arashpour. 2016. “Enhancing collaboration in BIM-based construction networks through organizational discontinuity theory: A case study of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.” Archit. Eng. Des. Manage. 12 (5): 333–352. https://doi.org/10.1080/17452007.2016.1169987.
Morris, P. W. G. 2004. “Project management in the construction industry.” In The Wiley guide to managing projects, edited by P. W. G. Morris, and J. K. Pinto, 1350–1367. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Olawumi, T. O., D. W. Chan, J. K. Wong, and A. P. Chan. 2018. “Barriers to the integration of BIM and sustainability practices in construction projects: A Delphi survey of international experts.” J. Build. Eng. 20 (Nov): 60–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2018.06.017.
Oraee, M., M. R. Hosseini, D. Edwards, and E. Papadonikolaki. 2021. “Collaboration in BIM-based construction networks: A qualitative model of influential factors.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage. 29 (3): 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-10-2020-0865.
Oraee, M., M. R. Hosseini, D. J. Edwards, H. Li, E. Papadonikolaki, and D. Cao. 2019. “Collaboration barriers in BIM-based construction networks: A conceptual model.” Int. J. Project Manage. 37 (6): 839–854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2019.05.004.
Pallant, J. 2013. SPSS, survival manual: A step-by-step guide to data analysis using IBM, SPSS. 5th ed. Sydney, Melbourne: Allen & Unwin.
Papadonikolaki, E., C. van Oel, and M. Kagioglou. 2019. “Organising and managing boundaries: A structurational view of collaboration with building information modelling (BIM).” Int. J. Project Manage. 37 (3): 378–394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2019.01.010.
Peixoto, F. 2020. “A simple overview of multilayer perceptron (MLP).” Accessed December 20, 2021. https://www.analyticsvidhya.com/blog/2020/12/mlp-multilayer-perceptron-simple-overview/.
Poirier, E. A., D. Forgues, and S. Staub-French. 2017. “Understanding the impact of BIM on collaboration: A Canadian case study.” Build. Res. Inf. 45 (6): 681–695. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2017.1324724.
Sacks, R., C. Eastman, G. Lee, and P. Teicholz. 2018. BIM handbook: A guide to building information modeling for owners, designers, engineers, contractors, and facility managers. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Santos, R., A. A. Costa, and A. Grilo. 2017. “Bibliometric analysis and review of building information modelling literature published between 2005 and 2015.” Autom. Constr. 80 (Aug): 118–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2017.03.005.
Shang, Z. X., and Z. G. Shen. 2014. “Critical success factors (CSFs) of BIM implementation for collaboration based on system analysis.” In Proc., Computing in Civil and Building Engineering, 1441–1448. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Stock, J. H., and M. W. Watson. 2015. Introduction to econometrics. 3rd ed. Hoboken, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Tabachnick, G. G., and L. S. Fidell. 2007. Using multivariate statistics. 5th ed. Boston: Pearson Education.
Taylor, J. E. 2007. “Antecedents of successful three-dimensional computer-aided design implementation in design and construction networks.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 133 (12): 993–1002. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2007)133:12(993).
Um, K. H., and S. M. Kim. 2019. “The effects of supply chain collaboration on performance and transaction cost advantage: The moderation and nonlinear effects of governance mechanisms.” Int. J. Prod. Econ. 217 (Nov): 97–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2018.03.025.
Viana, V. L. B., and M. T. M. Carvalho. 2021. “Prioritization of risks related to BIM implementation in Brazilian public agencies using fuzzy logic.” J. Build. Eng. 36 (Apr): 102104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2020.102104.
Wambeke, B. W., M. Liu, and S. M. Hsiang. 2014. “Task variation and the social network of construction trades.” J. Manage. Eng. 30 (4): 05014008. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000219.
Wang, K., F. Guo, C. Zhang, J. Hao, and D. Schaefer. 2022. “Digital technology in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry: Research trend and practical status towards construction 4.0.” In Proc., Construction Research Congress 2022. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Xu, J., R. Y. Jin, P. Piroozfar, Y. B. Wang, B. G. Kang, L. Ma, D. Wanatowski, and T. Yang. 2018. “Constructing a BIM climate-based framework: Regional case study in China.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 144 (11). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001568.
Ye, X., S. Shi, H. Y. Chong, X. Fu, L. Liu, and Q. He. 2018. “Empirical analysis of firms’ willingness to participate in infrastructure PPP projects.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 144 (1): 04017092. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0001404.
Zanni, M. A., R. Soetanto, and K. Ruikar. 2017. “Towards a BIM-enabled sustainable building design process: Roles, responsibilities, and requirements.” Arch. Eng. Des. Manage. 13 (2): 101–129. https://doi.org/10.1080/17452007.2016.1213153.
Zhang, L., J. Yuan, Y. Ning, N. Xia, and G. Zhang. 2021. “Enhancing the impacts of absorptive capacity on interorganizational collaboration in BIM-enabled construction projects—An SLT perspective.” Eng. Constr. Archit. Manage. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-11-2020-0931.
Zhang, X., S. Azhar, A. Nadeem, and M. Khalfan. 2018. “Using Building Information Modelling to achieve Lean principles by improving efficiency of work teams.” Int. J. Constr. Manage. 18 (4): 293–300. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2017.1382083.
Zou, P. X., S. Wang, and D. Fang. 2008. “A life-cycle risk management framework for PPP infrastructure projects.” J. Financ. Manage. Prop. Constr. 13 (2): 123–142. https://doi.org/10.1108/13664380810898131.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Management in Engineering
Volume 38 • Issue 4 • July 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 30, 2021
Accepted: Feb 25, 2022
Published online: Apr 29, 2022
Published in print: Jul 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Sep 29, 2022
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.
Cited by
- Ying Gao, Zijian Li, Pei Ma, Xin Qi, Shuibo Zhang, Jingyan Qi, Exploring the Factors That Influence Active BIM Use by Employees Using a Configuration Perspective: An Empirical Study in China, Journal of Management in Engineering, 10.1061/JMENEA.MEENG-5924, 40, 5, (2024).
- Xin Chen, Qian Shi, Chao Xiao, Dong Zhao, Kewei Tang, Unveiling and Evaluating the Collaboration in Engineering Projects through a Two-Layer Information Collaboration Network Model, Journal of Management in Engineering, 10.1061/JMENEA.MEENG-5871, 40, 3, (2024).
- Shimaa Basheir Abdelkarim, Ahmad Mohammad Ahmad, Khalid Naji, A BIM-Based Framework for Managing Handover Information Loss, Journal of Management in Engineering, 10.1061/JMENEA.MEENG-5623, 40, 5, (2024).
- Simin Zhou, Rui Yu, Min Pan, Jian Zuo, Bocun Tu, Na Dong, Understanding Current Demand for BIM Professionals in China through Recruitment Data Mining, Journal of Management in Engineering, 10.1061/JMENEA.MEENG-5439, 40, 3, (2024).
- Yao Huang, Dingli Liu, Fredric M. Bell, Jing Yu, Feniosky Pena-Mora, Influences of Intra- and Interorganizational IT Innovations on Knowledge Sharing and Team Creativity: Evidence from Construction Projects in China, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 10.1061/JCEMD4.COENG-14007, 150, 5, (2024).
- Kaiyang Wang, Fangyu Guo, Ruijia Zhou, Liang Qian, Implementation of augmented reality in BIM-enabled construction projects: a bibliometric literature review and a case study from China, Construction Innovation, 10.1108/CI-08-2022-0196, (2023).
- Jinyue Zhang, Bing Cui, Ying Gao, Daxin Zhang, Factors Influencing the Acceptance of BIM-Based Automated Code Compliance Checking in the AEC Industry in China, Journal of Management in Engineering, 10.1061/JMENEA.MEENG-5344, 39, 6, (2023).
- Mazen M. Omer, N. M. Adeeq Mohd-Ezazee, Yong Siang Lee, Mohammad Sadra Rajabi, Rahimi A. Rahman, Constructive and Destructive Leadership Behaviors, Skills, Styles and Traits in BIM-Based Construction Projects, Buildings, 10.3390/buildings12122068, 12, 12, (2068), (2022).
- Kaiyang Wang, Fangyu Guo, Towards Sustainable Development through the Perspective of Construction 4.0: Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis, Buildings, 10.3390/buildings12101708, 12, 10, (1708), (2022).