| Author: | Au, Ling Ming |
| Title: | Exploring cross-sector BIM collaboration framework : through the lens of Mary Douglas's cultural theory, knowledge management, and social capital of network dimension |
| Advisors: | Li, Heng (BRE) |
| Degree: | DIREC |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Department: | Department of Building and Real Estate |
| Pages: | xii, 254 pages : color illustrations |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | "Ultimately, embracing Cross-Sector BIM Collaboration is not merely a technological BIM execution upgrade, but a strategic shift toward a human oriented, transparent, collaborative, and knowledge-driven future for the built environment." This paper investigates the interrelationships among Mary Douglas’s Cultural Theory (Douglas, 1999), Knowledge Management, and the Social Capital of Network Dimension within cross-sector Building Information Modelling (BIM) collaboration. By examining these elements, the study highlights their contributions to enhancing collaboration, innovation, and project success in BIM environments. Leveraging cultural dynamics, effective KM practices, and social capital is essential for fostering interdisciplinary partnerships. The adoption of BIM represents a significant evolution in the construction industry, transitioning from a labour-intensive to a technology-driven model. BIM encompasses various methodologies (3D, 4D, 5D) for manipulating project data throughout the asset lifecycle (Succar, 2009). However, the full utilization of BIM remains limited, with BIM maturity (BIMM) (Smits et al., 2017) measurements revealing varying levels of adoption. These discrepancies often stem from differing user perspectives, which depend on individual requirements, perceptions, capabilities, and experiences (Husairi et al., 2018). A defensive mindset among BIM users further obstructs project success, necessitating a cultural shift within organizations (Davies et al., 2017). BIM is a complex tool that integrates policies, technologies, and processes. Using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by Davis (1986), this study investigates factors influencing BIM adoption, including social, cultural, and economic dimensions. While project collaboration and knowledge sharing are vital for problem-solving, existing research often neglects human behaviors such as trust, conflict management, and team dynamics among stakeholders throughout the asset lifecycle. This research aims to fill that gap by exploring the cultural factors that influence human behavior through Douglas’s Cultural Theory, trust theory, and conflict management principles, alongside social capital and KM models. To assess the impact of stakeholder behavior and team organization on cross-sector collaboration performance, a detailed survey will capture differences in perspectives among stakeholders. This survey will enable the interpretation of results at a 95% confidence level, utilizing descriptive statistics and cross-analysis across various organizational sizes. Fundamentally, this research challenges the dominant techno-centric perspective of BIM by reconceptualizing collaboration as a socio-cultural practice rather than merely a technical process. It defines BIM as a socio-technical ecosystem, emphasizing the interplay between technology, personal culture, knowledge exchange, and organizational structures. By addressing often-overlooked "soft" dimensions that contribute to BIM project failures, this study proposes an innovative pathway to enhance project performance and promote a more inclusive and sustainable construction industry. Additionally, by revealing how cultural biases disrupt knowledge flows and erode trust among stakeholders, the research offers actionable strategies to transform BIM from a passive data repository into an active platform for innovation. Achieving BIM excellence requires not just advanced technological tools but also a deep understanding of the diverse cultures involved in the construction process. This study advocates a shift from "instrumental rationality" to "communicative rationality" in collaborative models. The proposed Cross-Sector BIM Project Collaboration Framework integrates management philosophy, strategic approaches, organizational structures, and KM best practices, aiming to optimize BIM project outcomes. Ultimately, this research posits that buildings are not merely structures; they are vessels of human experience. By digitizing with purpose, collaborating with empathy, and designing with foresight, we can create spaces that inspire, heal, and sustain life. Cross-Sector BIM Collaboration is an architecture of knowledge in service of the architecture of well-being and wisdom. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8426.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 9.83 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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