Abstract/Summary

Existing methods to measure the quantitative and qualitative benefits of building information modelling (BIM) have predominantly been designed to support the business case for the adoption of BIM and in most cases have proven its benefits. However, following the government mandate of Level 2 BIM on all centrally procured construction contracts by 2016 BIM has continued to gain momentum. As such, the motivation to adopt BIM is less about return on investment and more about competitive advantage within an industry where clients are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits BIM methodologies can bring to their projects. Accordingly, measurement methods should also change tack and refocus attention from static metrics associated with action that has already taken place to the ongoing activity of implementation. The approach to performance measurement within this paper is predicated on the understanding that project success and its measures are indicative of the configuration of BIM as a system that stretches beyond the boundaries of technology application. The Delone and Mclean Information System Success Model has remained a useful tool to assess the successful implementation of information systems since its introduction in 1992. In this paper, the authors extend its use to assess the success of BIM implementation on a large urban regeneration project to provide a means for effective system improvement, further realisation of benefits, and improved return on investment (ROI) in subsequent phases or projects. An interview protocol developed using the six constructs of the D&M model was used to assess the experience of ten design team members using BIM to coordinate a specific design component within a large urban regeneration project. Through the thematic analysis of project team interviews, normative BIM benefits to design processes were identified; however, these benefits have highlighted an inextricable link between the successful implementation of BIM and project context. Late engagement of BIM consultants, uncertainty over strategy intentions, learning curve of the software, parallel 2D and 3D design development, and programmatic issues associated with early clash detection have been recognised as limiting factors to BIM benefits realisation on this project.