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
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