Short answer

Embrace BIM not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for fundamental changes in how projects are designed, managed, and delivered, actively seeking to understand and leverage its impact on collaboration and organizational dynamics.

Field
Innovation & Design
Source
Communications of the Association for Information Systems (2012)
Method
Literature Review
Sample
264 research articles
Evidence
Strong effect

Building Information Modeling (BIM) offers a powerful framework for integrated design and construction, necessitating significant organizational and process changes that can be strategically leveraged for business advantage. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2012 study published in Communications of the Association for Information Systems. Using Literature review with 264 research articles, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Embrace BIM not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for fundamental changes in how projects are designed, managed, and delivered, actively seeking to understand and leverage its impact on collaboration and organizational dynamics.

Study
Innovation & DesignHigh ImpactStrong effect

BIM adoption unlocks significant business value and transforms construction industry practices.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) offers a powerful framework for integrated design and construction, necessitating significant organizational and process changes that can be strategically leveraged for business advantage.

Communications of the Association for Information Systems · 2012

01

Key Findings

  • 01BIM research spans a wide range of technological and organizational topics with clear relevance to IS research.
  • 02IS theories are informing contemporary BIM research, suggesting IS can serve as a reference discipline.
  • 03Key areas for further IS research include the relationship between BIM's functional affordances and human agency, inter-organizational collaboration with BIM, the influence of organizational culture on BIM practices, BIM's capability for transforming industry practice, and identifying the business value of BIM.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Embrace BIM not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for fundamental changes in how projects are designed, managed, and delivered, actively seeking to understand and leverage its impact on collaboration and organizational dynamics.

How to apply

When evaluating or implementing BIM, consider the organizational culture, existing collaborative practices, and the potential for inter-organizational integration. Identify specific business objectives that BIM can help achieve and plan for the necessary process and role adjustments.

Project actions

  • 01When researching BIM, consider how it affects collaboration between different teams or companies.
  • 02Investigate how organizational culture might help or hinder the adoption of BIM.
  • 03Explore methods to measure the actual business value or return on investment from using BIM.
03

Method & Evidence

AimWhat are the key areas within Building Information Modeling (BIM) that are ripe for Information Systems (IS) research, and how can these insights inform design and construction practices?
MethodLiterature Review
ProcedureA comprehensive review of 264 research articles on Building Information Modeling (BIM) was conducted to identify technological and organizational topics relevant to Information Systems (IS) research and to pinpoint areas requiring further investigation.
Sample264 research articles
ContextConstruction Industry

Variables

IV["Implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM)","Technological affordances of BIM"]
DV["Inter-organizational collaboration","Human agency","Organizational culture impact","Transformation of industry practice","Business value of BIM"]
CV["Type of construction project","Size of construction firm","Geographical location of project"]
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Comprehensive literature review covering a substantial number of articles.
  • +Identifies specific, actionable areas for future research within BIM.
  • +Connects BIM research to the established field of Information Systems.

Limitations

The research is from 2012, so it might not reflect the latest advancements or current challenges in BIM technology and implementation.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of the review depends on the systematic selection and analysis of the 264 articles. Validity is enhanced by identifying clear research gaps and connections to IS theory, though the subjective interpretation of research themes can be a limitation.

Think critically

Given that BIM requires significant changes to established practices, how can designers and engineers proactively influence these changes to ensure that the technology serves human needs and enhances, rather than hinders, the design and construction process?

05

Design Principles

"Technological adoption, especially in complex industries like construction, requires a holistic approach that integrates technological capabilities with organizational readiness and strategic objectives to unlock full value."

Understanding the transformative potential of BIM is crucial for design and construction firms aiming to improve collaboration, efficiency, and project outcomes. By identifying key areas for IS research within BIM, practitioners can better anticipate and manage the technological and organizational shifts required for successful adoption.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a way of designing and building that uses digital models. Research shows that how we use BIM, and how it changes how people and companies work together, is really important for making it successful and getting the most business benefit.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Use this research to justify investigating the adoption challenges or benefits of a new technology in your design project.
  • 2.Cite this paper when discussing how a design innovation requires changes in organizational processes or stakeholder collaboration.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights that Building Information Modeling (BIM) is not merely a technological advancement but a paradigm shift in construction, necessitating significant organizational and process changes. The study identifies key areas for Information Systems (IS) research, such as the interplay between BIM's capabilities and human agency, inter-organizational collaboration, and the business value derived from its adoption, suggesting that a comprehensive approach is required for successful implementation and realization of benefits.

09

Source

Communications of the Association for Information Systems

A Research Review on Building Information Modeling in Construction―An Area Ripe for IS Research

journal · 2012

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about bim adoption unlocks significant business value and transforms construction industry practices?
Embrace BIM not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for fundamental changes in how projects are designed, managed, and delivered, actively seeking to understand and leverage its impact on collaboration and organizational dynamics. Evidence: Communications of the Association for Information Systems (2012).
Why does "BIM adoption unlocks significant business value and transforms construction industry practices." matter for design?
Understanding the transformative potential of BIM is crucial for design and construction firms aiming to improve collaboration, efficiency, and project outcomes. By identifying key areas for IS research within BIM, practitioners can better anticipate and manage the technological and organizational shifts required for successful adoption.
How can designers apply this research?
Embrace BIM not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for fundamental changes in how projects are designed, managed, and delivered, actively seeking to understand and leverage its impact on collaboration and organizational dynamics.
What were the main findings?
BIM research spans a wide range of technological and organizational topics with clear relevance to IS research.. IS theories are informing contemporary BIM research, suggesting IS can serve as a reference discipline.. Key areas for further IS research include the relationship between BIM's functional affordances and human agency, inter-organizational collaboration with BIM, the influence of organizational culture on BIM practices, BIM's capability for transforming industry practice, and identifying the business value of BIM.
What research method was used?
Literature Review with 264 research articles.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2012 journal from Communications of the Association for Information Systems.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When evaluating or implementing BIM, consider the organizational culture, existing collaborative practices, and the potential for inter-organizational integration. Identify specific business objectives that BIM can help achieve and plan for the necessary process and role adjustments.
What are the limitations?
The review is based on research published up to 2012, and the field of BIM has evolved significantly since then. The focus is on IS research, potentially overlooking other critical disciplinary contributions.