Martin, H; Watson, C and Brooks, T (2025) Synergizing BIM and riba in architectural practice-technology workflow efficiencies, challenges, and insights. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 21(1), pp. 35-59. ISSN 1745-2007
Abstract
Productivity improvements are constrained by insufficient consideration of technology adoption within professions. This study clarifies the limited knowledge between BIM and RIBA architectural workflow synergies and proposes a framework to improve identified inefficiencies. Consequently, a qualitative approach consisting of 10 interviews with architects was conducted to understand their personal experiences and opportunities for improvement. The findings revealed that multidisciplinary design cooperation and risk reduction are major possibilities for workflow improvements in the design stage, while site communication and error detection increase the need for an architect’s presence onsite during the construction stage. Additionally, this study identifies interoperability, barriers to change, and design inflexibility as professional drawbacks of using BIM. These findings provide hierarchical data to form an architect’s BIM matrix, which aims to maximise opportunities and reduce challenges in BIM implementation. This study highlights the importance of considering both technical and human factors in BIM adoption and uses management theories to explain how architects can better utilise technology to enhance their practice.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | BIM; computer-aided design; construction; critical success factors; human factor; labour; productivity; technology adoption; workflow |
| Index terms: | computer aided design, management theory, design stage, cooperation, critical success factor, workflow, human factor, interview, risk reduction, profession, architectural practice, presence, architect, implementation, interoperability, technology adoption, synergy, onsite, efficiency, productivity, qualitative approach |
| Subjects: | financial risk, research methods, building construction, institututions, computational design, innovation and technology management, professional practice, environmental science, contractual arrangements, psychology, performance management, management, systems and processes, partnership management, occupational health and safety management, control systems, business, data collection methods, profession |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Cost Management, Research Practice, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions, Construction Technology, Digital Applications, Design Practice, Organizational Design, Health and Safety, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Sustainability, Procurement, Quality Management |
| 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