Building information modelling project decision support framework

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within the Construction Industry are not very innovative or active in terms of developing, implementing, adopting and diffusing new information and communications technologies. Any research to date has mainly focused on, and benefited, large construction enterprises who are developing complex distributed computer systems for co-ordination and management of project activities across diverse geographical locations. However, SMEs also need systems that co-ordinate and manage activities across different locations. Building sites tend not to be side by side. But SMEs, due to their very nature, need to see any new system’s added value to existing manual systems before making any commitment to bring in new technology. The only way to measure added value is to know what value the existing systems have. Again, there is little meaningful writing in this field as most studies need to have a high level of confidentiality. This paper highlights some of the real issues facing SMEs in their pursuit of systems that add value. Human and financial resources, time, previous experience and relationships, both formal and informal, all weave an intricate pattern that dictate SMEs approach to IT implementation. The issues highlighted are based upon an Action Research-based case study currently underway in a SME in the construction industry.