Development of a decision support framework to aid selection of construction supply chain organisations for BIM-enabled projects

Mahamadu, Abdul-M

Abstract

With the emergence of Building Information Modelling (BIM), a critical criterion for the qualification of a suitable Construction Supply Chain (CSC) for projects is the ability of individual organisations to deliver through the use of BIM. Despite emerging research on BIM capability assessment, there are very few studies which look specifically at the qualification (pre-qualification and selection) of CSC organisations for projects. Furthermore, there is a general dearth of knowledge about the links between often pre-emptive qualification criteria and actual delivery success, particularly, in the BIM or CSC context. This research identifies the most relevant BIM qualification criteria for CSC organisations, as well as investigates their relative importance and influence on various aspects of BIM delivery success.
A sequential exploratory mixed method research strategy was adopted in a three-phase design. The first phase explored BIM expert views on appropriate BIM qualification criteria in the UK, through interviews with BIM specialists (n=8). The next phase consisted of two rounds of a Delphi study with experienced construction practitioners (n=30 and n=25) to ascertain the most critical among the BIM qualification criteria derived from the first phase. This was achieved through statistical determination of Delphi participant consensus with the inter-rater agreement (rwg) test. The final phase involved a survey of practitioners on BIM-enabled projects in the UK (n=64) in order to empirically establish the relationship between the critical BIM qualification criteria and various dimensions of BIM delivery success in practice. This was achieved through survey respondents’ independent appraisal of CSC organisations on recent projects in relation to quality of BIM deliverables, delivery of BIM within schedule and on budget, plus collaboration, coordination and integration of project CSC through BIM. Various multivariate statistical analysis techniques including correlation analysis, mean weighted contribution analysis, multiple regressions modelling and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were engaged to identify qualification criteria influence on success. A decision support framework (DSF) was developed and proposed, based on the coefficients and weightings computed from the inferential statistical analysis of survey data. The research findings and DSF were validated through convergence analysis, as well as elicitation of expert respondent feedback to ensure adequacy, suitability and relevance in practice.
The findings highlight the multi-dimensional nature of the relationship between BIM capability and various elements of delivery success. It is surmised that individual BIM capability attributes influence various aspects of BIM delivery success to different extents and this must be taken into consideration when selecting CSC candidates. BIM ‘staff experience’ and the ‘suitability of proposed methodology’ prior to BIM project commencement were identified as the most influential criteria on BIM modelling success (quality of BIM models, delivery of BIM within schedule and on budget). Individual competencies were found to be most influential on modelling quality and delivery of BIM within budget while execution planning adequacy influenced ability to deliver BIM on time. On the other hand, the ‘administrative and strategic’ level capacities were found as the most influential in relation to leveraging BIM to achieve project CSC objectives namely, collaboration, coordination or integration on projects. From a consolidation of the findings, a DSF is proposed for prioritisation of CSC organisations based on their propensity to succeed in the delivery of BIM. The work also provides an enhanced guidance on the relationship between various dimensions of BIM capability and delivery success, as well as how this knowledge enhances the prediction of CSC candidate propensity to succeed at the pre-qualification and selection phase of construction projects.

Citation

Mahamadu, A. Development of a decision support framework to aid selection of construction supply chain organisations for BIM-enabled projects. (Thesis). University of the West of England. Retrieved from https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/890601

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 29, 2019
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/890601
• Award Date: Mar 30, 2017