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Revamping established project procurement approaches to support BIM implementation

Mohammad Alhusban (Department of Civil Engineering, Middle East University, Amman, Jordan)
Faris Elghaish (School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, UK)
M. Reza Hosseini (School of Architecture and Built Environment, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia)
Mohammad Mayouf (Faculty of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment (CEBE), College of the Built Environment, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK)

Smart and Sustainable Built Environment

ISSN: 2046-6099

Article publication date: 26 January 2024

171

Abstract

Purpose

Previous studies have established to a great extent that regulatory frameworks and, in particular, procurement approaches – that are common in a particular context – have a major impact on the success of building information modelling (BIM) implementation in construction projects. Despite the close links between these two concepts, research on the effect of procurement approaches on BIM implementation is scarce. To address this gap, this paper aims to investigate the barriers that affect BIM implementation through the lens of procurement approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-method approach was adopted using a questionnaire survey (n = 116) and interviews with key stakeholders (n = 12) in Jordan. The outcomes of the quantitative parts were augmented with findings from interviews.

Findings

It was revealed that the deployment of unfavourable construction procurement approaches represents a major hurdle towards BIM implementation. Though essential for enhancing BIM implementation, it is revealed that a fundamental change from the common design-bid-build (DBB) to more collaborative procurement approaches remains infeasible in view of the realities that govern the construction industry.

Research limitations/implications

It was revealed the deployment of unfavourable construction procurement approaches represents a major hurdle towards BIM implementation. Though essential for enhancing BIM implementation, it is revealed that a fundamental change from the common DBB to more collaborative procurement approaches remains infeasible given the realities that govern the construction industry.

Originality/value

As the first of its kind, a set of recommendations for establishing supportive, workable procurement that does not deviate significantly from common procedures and practices is presented. Rather than advocating a shift to procurement approaches that are aligned with BIM, the findings offer novel insight into the necessity of developing a framework within the boundaries of the current and widely adopted procurement approaches to address the identified construction procurement issues and facilitate BIM implementation.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the research participants working in the Jordanian Ministry of Public Work and Housing and the Jordanian public consultants and contractors for their time and valuable knowledge to inform this research.

Citation

Alhusban, M., Elghaish, F., Hosseini, M.R. and Mayouf, M. (2024), "Revamping established project procurement approaches to support BIM implementation", Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-05-2023-0134

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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