Optimization of the BIM authoring tool in architectural practice : a case study approach

Construction companies are facing barriers and challenges in Building Information Modelling (BIM) adoption as there is no clear guidance or best practice studies from which they can learn and build up their capacity for BIM use to increase productivity, efficiency, and quality. One of the key challenges in the BIM adoption is the ability of optimization of a selected BIM authoring tool according to a company’s needs and requirements. This paper explains the approach for the optimization of BIM technology selected in a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project, undertaken between the University of Salford and John McCall Architects. The BIM implementation approach in the KTP used a socio-technical view that considered both the implementation of technology and its socio-cultural environment. The adoption and optimisation used the action research oriented qualitative and quantitative research for discovery, comparison, and experimentation it provided for “learning by doing.