A building information modelling (BIM) approach to improving collaboration among construction stakeholders in Ghana
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Date
NOVEMBER, 2019
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Abstract
Collaboration is essential to the success of construction projects but there seems to be no
clear guide on the process of collaboration creating difficulties for stakeholders to
effectively interact and achieve a common project goal within the bounds of cost, quality
and time. The construction industry has most often used Collaboration as innovative tool
towards the attainment of project objectives. This study sought to identify how
Collaborative practices among Stakeholders in the Ghanaian Construction Industry can
be improved using a Building Information Modelling (BIM) approach. Guided by the
research objectives, this study elicited responses from construction professionals who
have worked as consultants in their line of work. The data was analyzed with the help of
Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), descriptive statistical tools and measures
which included tables, mean and standard deviation. In identifying the challenges of the
conventional collaboration, it emerged from this research that Lack of long-term
relationship, Lack of reciprocal commitment, Lack of Resource sharing, The Fear of
micromanagement in collaboration, Differences in organizational culture of partners,
Undefined roles and responsibilities of partners, Lack of Management commitment,
Incentive Alignment, Poor management by partners, and Interpersonal relationship
emerged as the top ten (10) challenges. Data analyzed revealed that, the uncertainty/high
initial cost of BIM, Lack of standardized guidelines and protocols for practice, Lack of
Financial Resources, Lack of Professionals with BIM knowledge, Resistance to change,
Lack of clarity on who bares possible incremental project cost, Information Accuracy,
Lack of industry digitization, Lack of BIM training for professionals and Lack of network
capabilities are the ten (10) topmost challenges to BIM adoption and implementation. In
conclusion. The study concluded that collaboration is an essential part of the construction
industry because of its fragmented nature which seems to converge so many
professionals to a construction project with project success as its goal. Hence,
Management of Consultancy firms must invest resources into obtaining Building
Information Modelling (BIM) and train their professionals to be well equipped in its
usage and Construction professionals must not allow their personal indifferences or
disagreements to affect the efficient collaboration needed on construction projects.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Construction Technology and
Management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in
partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Award of a
Master of Science Construction Management.
Keywords
Collaboration, BIM, Consultancy firms, Fragmentation