Research background
Thayla is a Researcher at the Centre for Digital Built Britain, and also currently studying for a PhD at the Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge. Her research interests revolve around Building Information Modelling (BIM), services and digital transformation of the built environment.
A framework of the practices affecting the performance of digitally enabled construction projects
Building Information Modelling (BIM) sits at the heart of digital transformation across the UK built environment. Several benefits of implementing BIM have been promulgated within the construction industry and literature, such as cost and time savings, enhanced productivity and quality, improved collaboration and inefficiency reduction. However, BIM is not a panacea for improving project performance, which requires more than new technical solutions; the full potential of BIM cannot be realised without changes in both organisational and inter-organisational practices. Although there is a range of standards for BIM implementation, the practices at multiple levels, factors and mechanisms that affect BIM project performance remain unclear and fragmented in the literature. Notably, there are mixed findings in the literature about BIM implementation and the conditions under which a BIM project has improved performance outcomes.
Research Objectives
Grounding on the project-as-practice literature, this research aims to elucidate which practices, factors and mechanisms influence the successful execution and completion of digitally enabled construction projects. Multiple case studies will be conducted aiming to develop a framework of multilevel practices that are related to superior performance.
Research Contributions
This research seeks to contribute to the literature and practice in different ways. First, this research adds to the limited empirical research that focuses on the relationship between BIM project practices and project performance. In addition, although the technical side of BIM is maturing, the managerial areas of BIM remain unexplored. Thus, this study aims to expose unexplored practices and factors that are related to functional and management competencies and their relationship to improved performance. Finally, from the practical perspective, identifying relevant practices at different levels will not only facilitate BIM adoption but will also clarify which complex activities regarding multidisciplinary collaboration impact project performance.
