Adoption and implementation of building information modelling (BIM) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): a review and conceptualization

PurposeDespite the SMEs representing a large percentage of firms in the construction industry, there has been an under-representation of SMEs’ perspective in BIM research studies. This paper aims to systematically review the few extant studies with a view of synthesizing the findings.Design/methodol...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Engineering, construction, and architectural management construction, and architectural management, 2021-07, Vol.28 (7), p.1829-1862
Main Authors: Saka, Abdullahi B, Chan, Daniel W.M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bibliometrics
Building information modeling
Building management systems
Construction industry
Epistemology
Literature reviews
Modelling
Productivity
Research methodology
Scientometrics
Small & medium sized enterprises-SME
Small business
Synthesis
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Summary:PurposeDespite the SMEs representing a large percentage of firms in the construction industry, there has been an under-representation of SMEs’ perspective in BIM research studies. This paper aims to systematically review the few extant studies with a view of synthesizing the findings.Design/methodology/approachHermeneutic philosophy using the interpretivist epistemology approach with a touch of metasynthesis was adopted to critically review and analyse extant studies published over the last decade.FindingsThe findings revealed a scarcity of BIM studies in SMEs, the status of adoption, identified barriers, benefits and drivers. A conceptual model was then developed based on the literature review and theoretical lenses of innovation diffusion model, technology–organization–environment framework and institutional theory. The paper presents pertinent propositions to drive BIM in the SMEs.Originality/valueThis paper holistically reviews extant BIM studies from the perspective of SMEs that are the backbone of the construction industry. It synthesizes extant studies and sets scenes for further studies.
ISSN:0969-9988
1365-232X
DOI:10.1108/ECAM-06-2019-0332