Critical Challenges for BIM Adoption in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Evidence from China

Abstract

Building information modelling (BIM) is a set of technologies that aim to increase interorganisational and cross-disciplinary collaboration in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries to promote productivity and the quality of design, construction, and maintenance stages of a building. Studies on BIM adoption in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have remained an under-represented area. It is necessary to understand the main challenges hindering the adoption of BIM in SMEs and to consider corresponding strategies that can be applied in order to obtain further understanding of BIM in SMEs. On the basis of literature review and interview, stakeholder-associated factors were identified from a network perspective, and the social network analysis (SNA) method was applied to determine the interconnections between the influencing factors and links in BIM adoption in SMEs. Eventually, 10 critical factors and 10 crucial links were selected and divided into six challenges. Corresponding strategies, including cultivating the BIM perception of SMEs, integrated project delivery, strengthening the legal environment for BIM adoption in SMEs, and developing native software and standards and cloud-based technology, were proposed to mitigate these challenges. The strategies may help practitioners gain an in-depth understanding of BIM adoption in SMEs from a stakeholder-oriented perspective.