Collaboration in BIM enabled design projects: effects of interoperable information technologies

There is a growing awareness that the problematic nature of collaboration in construction design projects is further complicated by the use of interoperable information technologies (IT) in Building Information Modelling (BIM) enabled projects. Consequently, there is a need to better understand the ways interoperable IT get involved in inter-disciplinary relations and affect mutual engagement of different design members. Findings from the study of a BIM enabled design project are analysed using the concept of interdependencies in the interactions between practitioners and their organisations. The paper draws a distinction between “model interdependencies” and “design interdependencies” concerned with the IT and the design task respectively. This distinction helps to deal with the complex nature of practice by expressing the different needs people have in their task interactions using technology in organisations. It is concluded that the conflicts between model and design interdependencies cause segregation into separate model development and design development at the organisational level. Project organisations should be aware of this and take necessary social and technological precautions to achieve better design collaboration.