A framework for the diffusion of building information modelling (BIM) adoption strategy for the private client organisation

Abstract

Despite being involved in the global industry and having endorsement from various governments on its advantages, Building Information Modelling (BIM) continues to languish and unable to attract a critical mass of adoption in Malaysian construction industry. Approaching the issue from the interrelated perspectives, this study sought to identify the common components (potential value, expected benefits and challenges of adoption) related to BIM adoption and to suggest diffusion of BIM Adoption Strategy in the Malaysian context. The sample was drawn from the Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association Malaysia (REDHA) listed members from 2012 to 2013. Questionnaires were sent to 925 real estate and housing developers and 152 were returned and analysed using the Rasch Measurement Model. Initially, the following five categories of adopters were identified: Innovators, Late Adopters, Early Majority, Late Majority, and Laggards. Other than that, the findings suggested that although initially there was some resistance, it would be prudent to assume that should there be systematic strategy to support BIM adoption, 58% of the clients‘ organisation had the potential to adopt BIM within 3 years. It was interesting to report that the ability to increase the turnover of the project has been identified as de facto for organisations to employ BIM into their work process. This study also found that lack of direction of BIM will grind for successful BIM adoption in Malaysia. Thus, to support the adoption, this study proposed a Diffusion of BIM Adoption Strategy framework. The framework consists of transformational, operational and human development strategy. The framework also offers a comprehensive deployment of strategies to ensure that rejection will not take place after the organisations have started to adopt BIM. With the right strategies which are implemented in the sound manner, this study believes that BIM adoption in Malaysia will be successful and at par with other early adopter countries.