Collaboration in BIM-based construction networks: A bibliometric-qualitative literature review

Highlights

• The corpus of the literature associated with collaboration in BbCNs is analysed deploying bibliometric and qualitative techniques

• Core research areas of published studies on collaboration in BbCNs are identified and visualized

• Gaps in the literature on collaboration in BbCNs are identified

Abstract

BIM-based Construction Networks (BbCNs) are teams comprising members from several specialist organisations to undertake BIM-related tasks on BIM-enabled projects. Fostering collaboration within BbCNs is a top priority for construction project managers, yet no explicit body of knowledge has focused on investigating the relevant research gaps in knowledge. The present study intends to address this gap by plotting the storyline of relevant research studies in the last 10 years (2006–2016). A “Collaboration Pentagon” consisted of context, process, task, team and actor as the theoretical lens is created through integration of relevant frameworks. The study draws upon a bibliometric analysis of 1031 studies on BIM alongside the outcome of a qualitative evaluation of a total of 62 carefully selected papers on collaboration in BbCNs. The findings reveal that the scholarship on collaboration on BIM-enabled projects has predominately focused on technology as one antecedent of collaboration while project-related and managerial antecedents have remained under-researched. Moreover, though enhancing collaboration necessitates inclusion of all influential antecedents, studies with such an all-inclusive perspective are rare. The study contributes to the field through this inclusive Collaboration Pentagon and by providing a systematic and objective evaluation of available literature on collaboration in BbCNs and uncovering respective gaps.

Introduction

As one of the most influential innovations in construction industry, BIM is capable of supporting project management in procurement, construction, pre-fabrication and facility management areas (Bryde et al., 2013). Eastman et al. (2008) defined BIM as an integrative technology with “parametric intelligence” that alters the digital building representation process throughout the lifecycle. BIM is a “multifunctional set of instrumentalities for specific purposes that will increasingly be integrated” (Miettinen and Paavola, 2014). Thus, BIM could be defined as a methodology with technological, agential and managerial components. BIM-enabled projects are typically handled by BIM-based Construction Networks (BbCNs) comprising members from specialist organisations, contracted to execute BIM-related works (Grilo et al., 2013). The ability to enhance collaboration within these BbCNs has been a selling point for BIM (Cao et al., 2017). However, maintaining collaboration among geographically separated members coming from multiple disciplines and organisations in BbCNs has proved problematic (Volk et al., 2014, Liu et al., 2016) and thus worthy of further investigation.

There exists a growing interest in exploring the factors affecting collaboration in BbCNs (Shafiq et al., 2013), yet anecdotal evidence still refers to knowledge gaps in the Body of Knowledge (BOK) on collaboration in BbCNs (Mignone et al., 2016, Alreshidi et al., 2016, Liu et al., 2016). To this end, no explicit BOK has systematically assessed the specific literature on collaboration in BbCNs, but have focused on the extended BIM BOK instead, e.g. (Zhao, 2017, Santos et al., 2017). This is a major barrier to identifying directions for research on any topic, which might end up either in overlooking central aspects or duplication of efforts (Yalcinkaya and Singh, 2015). From a Project Management BOK (PMI, 2013) perspective, this study unravels the contribution of BIM scholarship in the areas of integration management, communication management and stakeholder management.

With this in mind, conducting systematic review studies to spot gaps and discover core research requirements becomes highly relevant (He et al., 2017). This study aims to analyse the scholarship on collaboration on BbCNs. As such, the study maps and analyses the state of existing publications on collaboration on BbCNs. The resulting accumulated knowledge will uncover patterns and relationships between concepts that have remained hidden within the literature on the topic. Additionally, the findings will produce evidence to inform, guide and improve future research on the topic. The paper is structured as follows. First, the background and relevant research on collaboration on BbCNs is presented. Next, the relevant research methods to address the research aim are defined. The findings of the study are presented and discussed against relevant literature in the subsequent two sections. Finally, the ensuing section concludes the study by summarising key points and outlining implications for scholarship and practice.