Saghatforoush, E; Hosseini Nourzad, S H; Zareravasan, A and Jadidoleslami, S (2023) Enablers for BIM application in architectural design: A robust exploratory factor analysis approach. International Journal of Construction Management, 23(9), pp. 1549-1559. ISSN 1562-3599
Abstract
Professional architects with several years of experience in various projects have unique methods to design an architectural work. One of these approaches is to leverage the value of emerging information technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) in architectural design. Leveraging these potentials requires promoting an appropriate context for the implementation and adoption of these new technologies. In response to the turbulent and multifaceted socio-technical nature of modern information technologies and the environmental uncertainty, architects enhance enablers to advance the architectural design process. Enablers are the preeminent factors that facilitate the implementation of new technologies and contribute to the sustainable development of projects and organizations. Given the lack of dedicated studies on the enablers affecting BIM application, this study aims to identify and classify these enablers in the architectural design phase. Following a systematic literature review approach, a comprehensive list of enablers for BIM application in the architectural design phase was identified. The prepared survey questionnaire was distributed to 205 construction experts (i.e. project managers, employers, consultants, and contractors). The collected data were analyzed with the Robust Exploratory Factor Analysis method, ended up with classifying 36 enablers into four main categories: human skills, environmental, technological, and organizational factors. The findings of this study, considering the organizational enablers, recommend that the support of government officials to implement a particular validation process for BIM adoption is crucial. The contribution of this research lies in identifying and classifying enablers for BIM application in the architectural design phase, with the potentials to be applied in real work practices to improve BIM capabilities and enhance BIM initiatives in construction projects.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | architectural design; enablers; building information modelling; exploratory factor analysis |
| Index terms: | project manager, architect, survey, new technology, architectural design, validation, organizational factor, environmental uncertainty, implementation, sustainable development, questionnaire, exploratory factor analysis, human skill, construction project, work practice, building information modelling, socio-technical, information technology, systematic literature review |
| Subjects: | health safety and environment, financial risk, capability, research methods, profession, data collection methods, innovation and technology management, management, professional development, information systems, business, computing systems, design practice, production management, contractual arrangements, research evaluation and metrics, statistical analysis |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Engineering Principles, Procurement, Information Management, Project Management, Research Practice, Human Resources, Digital Applications, Organizational Design, Cost Management, Health and Safety, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here