BIM articulation in different-sized architectural firms

The empirical domain of research into the implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) has tended to be large design practices working on mega projects. The majority of construction projects that use BIM (including mega projects) involve small- and medium-sized design practices (SMDPs). An understanding of how the commonalities and differences that large design practices and SMDPs articulate and implement BIM, and how BIM practices are integrated across the supply chain that may consist of large and small firms, is essential if sector-wide reform is to take place. Research has been conducted that explores the distinctive nature of innovation in small construction firms,  but less research articulates how BIM is played out, in the settings of interdisciplinary large and smaller architectural firms. Results are given from case study enquiries of five large design practices and six SMDPs firms that use BIM-enabled design. This research contributes to the understandings of the different contexts of large and (SMDPs). The responses collected from the large firms were mostly evident in the smaller firms. However, certain differences were identified amongst the different-sized firms, in terms of the way practitioners perceived BIM. Smaller firms mainly reflected the technical stance of BIM while more practitioners in the large firms expressed the practice-based approach in describing BIM.