Turning Knowledge into action: skills development and challenges in BIM projects

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a recent technology introduced in construction industry to increase productivity in construction projects. However, construction industry is slow in adopting new technologies due to skills challenges within project teams. Therefore the main objective of this paper is to explore the required skills to complete BIM related activities and to identify the approach taken in the industry to acquire these skills. Semi structured interviews were conducted with professionals working in BIM enabled construction projects to understand current skills challenges faced by project teams and to attain knowledge about the skills required to effectively complete BIM construction projects. Analysis of the results includes the identification of current skills challenges and the key issues in adopting skills for the improvement of project performance and productivity. The paper presents evidence that skills during a technology change such as BIM can be gained through four main stages such as core knowledge development, understanding practice, using knowledge in practice and continuous practice. However the evidence also suggests that turning knowledge into action is not a linear process especially in the early days of a technological change.