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Digitalisation and transaction costs: an exploration of BIM-enabled design collaboration
Despite arguments pointing to the major potential of digital technologies and processes to improve coordination and transform construction, in practice digitalisation has led to limited improvements and transformation. Previous research suggested that this is mainly due to the misalignment between the digital technologies and processes on the one hand, and the established organizational and business practices in construction on the other. This paper uses Transaction Cost Theory to create further insights into this misalignment. The empirical study focuses on design collaboration activities in a design-and-build project in the UK. Based on the observational and interview data collected from design meetings and their participants, the paper reveals the impact of BIM on the transaction costs of design collaboration. While BIM is supposed to reduce transaction costs by providing a shared medium that facilitates the search, negotiation and implementation of design decisions, there are additional transaction costs that arise to make such a shared digital medium functional under the existing professional and organizational arrangements. It is concluded that Transaction Cost Theory is a useful theoretical tool to help align the digital tools/processes and the wider organisational and business considerations in construction.
Digitalisation and transaction costs: an exploration of BIM-enabled design collaboration
Despite arguments pointing to the major potential of digital technologies and processes to improve coordination and transform construction, in practice digitalisation has led to limited improvements and transformation. Previous research suggested that this is mainly due to the misalignment between the digital technologies and processes on the one hand, and the established organizational and business practices in construction on the other. This paper uses Transaction Cost Theory to create further insights into this misalignment. The empirical study focuses on design collaboration activities in a design-and-build project in the UK. Based on the observational and interview data collected from design meetings and their participants, the paper reveals the impact of BIM on the transaction costs of design collaboration. While BIM is supposed to reduce transaction costs by providing a shared medium that facilitates the search, negotiation and implementation of design decisions, there are additional transaction costs that arise to make such a shared digital medium functional under the existing professional and organizational arrangements. It is concluded that Transaction Cost Theory is a useful theoretical tool to help align the digital tools/processes and the wider organisational and business considerations in construction.
Digitalisation and transaction costs: an exploration of BIM-enabled design collaboration
Cidik, Mustafa (author)
2022-09-05
In: Proceedings of the 38th ARCOM Annual Conference. Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM): Glasgow, UK. (2022)
Paper
Electronic Resource
English
DDC:
690
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