Impacts of Isomorphic Pressures on BIM Adoption in Construction Projects
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 140, Issue 12
Abstract
Drawing on institutional theory, this study examines how three types of isomorphic pressures (i.e., coercive, mimetic, and normative pressures) impact building information modeling (BIM) adoption activities in construction projects. The effects of these pressures are empirically tested with survey data collected from 92 construction projects in China. The results from partial least squares analyses indicate that coercive and mimetic pressures both significantly influence the extent of project-level BIM adoption. However, this study does not find support for a significant influence of normative pressures. The results further indicate that client/owner support plays a crucial but varied mediating role in the influences of these different isomorphic pressures. This study reinforces the need to regard project BIM adoption as a complexly socialized activity that is not only motivated by participants’ rational needs to proactively address internal process problems, but also driven by external isomorphic pressures related to the acquisition of institutional legitimacy. The findings also provide insights into how different types of institutional forces can be better manipulated to facilitate the diffusion of BIM in the construction industry.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This research has been supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 71272046) and the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Grant No. 2011DFG73520). The authors are grateful to the respondents for their participation in this research investigation, as well as Cheryl Chi, Dan Tan, Meiyan Fan, and Wei Lei at Tongji University for their valuable assistance during the research design and data collection processes. The authors also would like to thank the editor and the reviewers for their helpful suggestions.
References
Azhar, S., Carlton, W. A., Olsen, D., and Ahmad, I. (2011). “Building information modeling for sustainable design and LEED rating analysis.” Autom. Constr., 20(2), 217–224.
Barlish, K., and Sullivan, K. (2012). “How to measure the benefits of BIM—A case study approach.” Autom. Constr., 24, 149–159.
Barratt, M., and Choi, T. (2007). “Mandated RFID and institutional responses: Cases of decentralized business units.” Prod. Oper. Manage., 16(5), 569–585.
Bernstein, H. M., et al. (2012). The business value of BIM in North America, McGraw Hill Construction, Bedford, MA.
Bhakoo, V., and Choi, T. (2013). “The iron cage exposed: Institutional pressures and heterogeneity across the healthcare supply chain.” J. Oper. Manage., 31(6), 432–449.
Bossink, B. (2004). “Managing drivers of innovation in construction networks.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 337–345.
Boyer, K. K., and Verma, R. (2000). “Multiple raters in survey-based operations management research: A review and tutorial.” Prod. Oper. Manage., 9(2), 128–140.
Bryde, D., Broquetas, M., and Volm, J. M. (2013). “The project benefits of building information modelling (BIM).” Int. J. Project Manage., 31(7), 971–980.
Bynum, P., Issa, R., and Olbina, S. (2013). “Building information modeling in support of sustainable design and construction.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 24–34.
Chin, S., Yoon, S., Choi, C., and Cho, C. (2008). “RFID + 4D for progress management of structural steel works in high-rise buildings.” J. Comput. Civ. Eng., 74–89.
Computer Integrated Construction Research Program (CICRP). (2011). BIM project execution planning guide, Version 2.1 Ed., Dept. of Architecture Engineering, Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA.
DiMaggio, P. J., and Powell, W. W. (1983). “The iron cage revisited: Institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields.” Am. Sociol. Rev., 48(2), 147–160.
Dossick, C., and Neff, G. (2010). “Organizational divisions in BIM-enabled commercial construction.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 459–467.
Eadie, R., Browne, M., Odeyinka, H., McKeown, C., and McNiff, S. (2013). “BIM implementation throughout the UK construction project lifecycle: An analysis.” Autom. Constr., 36, 145–151.
Eastman, C., Teicholz, P., Sacks, R., and Liston, K. (2011). BIM handbook: A guide to building information modeling for owners, managers, designers, engineers and contractors, 2nd Ed., John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ.
Egan, J. (1998). Rethinking construction, Department of Trade and Industry, London.
Esmaeili, B., and Hallowell, M. (2012). “Diffusion of safety innovations in the construction industry.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 955–963.
Froese, T. M. (2010). “The impact of emerging information technology on project management for construction.” Autom. Constr., 19(5), 531–538.
Gao, J., and Fischer, M. (2008). Framework and case studies comparing implementations and impacts of 3D/4D modeling across projects, Center for Integrated Facility Engineering, Stanford Univ., Stanford, CA.
Giel, B. K., and Issa, R. R. A. (2013). “Return on investment analysis of using building information modeling in construction.” J. Comput. Civ. Eng., 511–521.
Hair, J. F., Ringle, C. M., and Sarstedt, M. (2011). “PLS-SEM: Indeed a silver bullet.” J. Market. Theor. Pract., 19(2), 139–152.
Hartmann, T., Gao, J., and Fischer, M. (2008). “Areas of application for 3D and 4D models on construction projects.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 776–785.
Howard, R., and Björk, B. (2008). “Building information modelling—Experts’ views on standardisation and industry deployment.” Adv. Eng. Inf., 22(2), 271–280.
Isikdag, U., Underwood, J., and Aouad, G. (2008). “An investigation into the applicability of building information models in geospatial environment in support of site selection and fire response management processes.” Adv. Eng. Inf., 22(4), 504–519.
Kale, S., and Arditi, D. (2005). “Diffusion of computer aided design technology in architectural design practice.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 1135–1141.
Lee, G., Lee, J., and Jones, S. A. (2012). The business value of BIM in South Korea, McGraw Hill Construction, Bedford, MA.
Lee, S., Yu, J., and Jeong, D. (2013). “BIM acceptance model in construction organizations.” J. Manage. Eng., 04014048.
Li, H., Chan, N. K. Y., Huang, T., Skitmore, M., and Yang, J. (2012). “Virtual prototyping for planning bridge construction.” Autom. Constr., 27, 1–10.
Liang, H., Saraf, N., Hu, Q., and Xue, Y. (2007). “Assimilation of enterprise systems: The effect of institutional pressures and the mediating role of top management.” MIS Q., 31(1), 59–87.
Ling, F., Hartmann, A., Kumaraswamy, M., and Dulaimi, M. (2007). “Influences on innovation benefits during implementation: Client’s perspective.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 306–315.
Mitropoulos, P., and Tatum, C. (2000). “Forces driving adoption of new information technologies.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 340–348.
Monteiro, A., and Poças Martins, J. (2013). “A survey on modeling guidelines for quantity takeoff-oriented BIM-based design.” Autom. Constr., 35, 238–253.
National Building Specification (NBS). (2013). National BIM report 2013, NBS National BIM Library, Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.
Nikas, A., Poulymenakou, A., and Kriaris, P. (2007). “Investigating antecedents and drivers affecting the adoption of collaboration technologies in the construction industry.” Autom. Constr., 16(5), 632–641.
Nunnally, J. C. (1978). Psychometric theory, 2nd Ed., McGraw-Hill, New York.
Podsakoff, P. M., and Organ, D. W. (1986). “Self-reports in organizational research: Problems and prospects.” J. Manag., 12(4), 531–544.
Ringle, C. M., Sarstedt, M., and Straub, D. W. (2012). “Editor’s comments: A critical look at the use of PLS-SEM in MIS Quarterly.” MIS Q., 36(1), III–XIV.
Scott, W. R. (2001). Institutions and organizations, 2nd Ed., Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA.
Succar, B. (2009). “Building information modelling framework: A research and delivery foundation for industry stakeholders.” Autom. Constr., 18(3), 357–375.
Taylor, J. (2007). “Antecedents of successful three-dimensional computer-aided design implementation in design and construction networks.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 993–1002.
Teo, H. H., Wei, K. K., and Benbasat, I. (2003). “Predicting intention to adopt interorganizational linkages: An institutional perspective.” MIS Q., 27(1), 19–49.
Toole, T. (1998). “Uncertainty and home builders’ adoption of technological innovations.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 323–332.
Williamson, O. E. (1985). The economic institutions of capitalism: Firms, markets, relational contracting, Free Press, New York.
Xu, T., Tiong, R., Chew, D., and Smith, N. (2005). “Development model for competitive construction industry in the People’s Republic of China.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 844–853.
Zhu, Y., Li, Y., Wang, W., and Chen, J. (2010). “What leads to post-implementation success of ERP? An empirical study of the Chinese retail industry.” Int. J. Inf. Manage., 30(3), 265–276.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 28, 2014
Accepted: May 30, 2014
Published online: Jul 7, 2014
Published in print: Dec 1, 2014
Discussion open until: Dec 7, 2014
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.