Beyond Knowledge Transfer: Why Building Information Modeling Requires More Than Just Knowledge for Success

The German design industry is poised to take the next step in its development when it introduced building information modeling (BIM). The German Bundestag is requiring that public construction projects be completed with BIM. Over forty training providers offer a variety of BIM training courses, yet implementation is slowing. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are facing the challenge of implementing BIM. This study explores how SMBs’ digital skills can be improved to implement BIM effectively. To this end, interviews with experts from nine companies were conducted and evaluated using the grounded theory. The interviewees express the view that investments in employee training can help build skills. All the same, SMBs only commit to BIM and training in response to growing demand. The interviews reveal that SMBs’ low level of knowledge is attributable to their lack of practical experience with BIM. SMBs without any prospect of a pilot BIM project do not invest in training. A major finding is that SMBs do not consider BIM training expedient – even when it is free - because they do not anticipate any demand for BIM services in the short or medium term. Public clients must consequently develop BIM expertise. The study shows how knowledge and change management research can be drawn on to establish widespread acceptance of BIM.