FRAGMENTED. Procurement for BIM

The construction industry is often referred to as being ‘unproductive’, where studies by both BRANZ and MBIE highlight the importance for the industry to adopt new technologies (Building information modelling ((BIM)) to help improve productivity levels. Although BIM implementation can increase productivity levels (through adoption of collaborative work processes), its Implementation is being negatively influenced by restrictive contractual frameworks (referred to as procurement), where projects are being delivered misaligned to the promised deliverable’s. The aim of this thesis was therefore to investigate the fragmentation that procurement selection can have on projects implementing BIM (with a primary focus on the New Zealand construction industry). To begin this investigation, literature was investigated where it was found that traditional procurement methods such as design bid build (DBB) and design build (DB) were ‘inadequate forms of procurement for projects implementing BIM processes’ due to their ‘fragmented nature, where all stages of the development of the building (design, construction, and operation) were not well integrated’ (the stages were separated). Due to this separation between project stages the collaboration and sharing of information (the basis of BIM) between consultants and contractors is reduced, ultimately impacting the success BIM can have within a project. Further within the literature review, new forms of innovative procurement were identified, where these new methods have the ability to better support projects implementing BIM due to the basis of the contract being formed on collaborative work processes. With this information sourced on the various procurement methods, an exploratory sequential methodology was developed to explore the selection of procurement within BIM projects’, as well as the success of these projects’ (where success was measured as projects meeting the triple constraint). This information was gathered within a questionnaire, and a case study, where the intent of this two step methodology was to validate questionnaire findings, whilst allowing for a more comprehensive understanding as to why these results were occurring. Results from the questionnaire found that 93% of projects’ were procured via traditional procurement methods, with DBB being the most common method within New Zealand, with a 61% implementation rate. Of all the data collected on projects’ within the questionnaire It was also identified that only 1 project within New Zealand (implementing an innovative procurement method) met all three aspects of the triple constraint. Although the projects’ procured through innovative methods were identified as being the most successful, key findings within this thesis was that innovative procurement methods are not appropriate on all projects within New Zealand, with this due to the small construction project size, and the cost required to set a project up through these methods being unable to be justified. Discussions with industry professionals identified that a redevelopment of traditional procurement methods is required, to allow the methods to support digital processes, and collaboration amongst the design team, with there also being the need for an independent BIM procurement specialist. The role of this specialist would see them work along side the client, to ensure that BIM was effectively procured within the project in question. An education piece is also required to be undertaken, focusing on the client. This is due to the client being the primary selector of the procurement strategy and method, and it believed that clients do not have a sufficient understanding of the influence that this selection can have on project successes.