What are the drivers/enablers and challenges/barriers to BIM adoption in SMEs?

Assessment Information/Brief 2020/21

To be used for all types of assessment and provided to students at the start of the module. Information provided should be compatible with the detail contained in the approved module specification although may contain more information for clarity.

CRN BIM for the Built Environment

Level 7

Assessment title Coursework

Weighting within module

This assessment is worth 100% of the overall module mark.

How to submit

You must submit your assessment electronically through Turnitin®

Assessment task details and instructions
Further information and support for students using Turnitin® can be found here: http://www.salford.ac.uk/library/help/blackboard-and-collaborate

The last few years have seen momentum within the international construction industry to transform. This is often driven by these Government’s commitment and mandate to digital information delivery and Building Information Modelling (BIM) on public procured projects (e.g. schools). This commitment to working with the industry in facilitating the transformation has led to the provision of a set of supporting standards, protocols, classification system, documentation, etc.; defined in the BIM mandate of the UK for example.

However, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have yet to fully adopt BIM. This assignment is focused on the principles, potential and way forward for BIM in SMEs in the construction industry. The assignment requires the following overarching questions to be addressed

• What are the drivers/enablers and challenges/barriers to BIM adoption in SMEs?

• What is the way forward for SMEs in the adoption of BIM?

In addressing these overarching questions, students are required to demonstrate an understanding of BIM in the context of SMEs by:

1. Developing a critical synthesis of the relevant background literature that incorporates the core concepts and principles studied throughout the programme (e.g. challenges and opportunities, business value/proposition, drivers and enablers, collaboration principles, etc.) in relation to BIM and SMEs
2. Developing potential strategies for SMEs

You have been asked to review one of a private SME capability and develop a strategy to implement BIM. The concept of BIM level 2 has changed and the UK is working on the UK BIM Framework now and you should consider the most up to date standards, protocols, documentation including newly published ISO19650 part 1,2 and 3. Your report should cover the following aspects

Critical assessment of business drivers, Advantages/strengths and opportunities of using BIM for SMEs

Critical challenges, limitations/weaknesses of using BIM for SMEs

Critical appraisal of business value/proposition of using BIM for SMEs

Critical appraisal of changes needed for BIM adoption

Proposing potential strategies and way forward for the SMEs

Assessed intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this assessment, you will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

1. Critically appraise the role of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in collaborative built environment design and construction processes and practices.
2. Apply integrated BIM in complex construction projects.
3. Interpret benefits in adopting BIM in projects.
4. Critically describe how BIM supports collaboration, design integration, energy efficiency and sustainability through the design and construction processes.
5. Analyse interoperability and other technical issues.

Practical, Professional or Subject Specific Skills

1. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the key theories, principles and concepts of BIM and the digital built environment to deliver whole life value;
2. Demonstrate a high-level competence in the critical appraisal of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in relation to delivering the whole-life value of the digital built environment.

Transferable Skills and other Attributes

1. Demonstrate high level and independent research, design and problem-solving skills
2. Achieve competence in applying theoretical and methodological concepts inintegrated digital built environment projects
3. Manage self and learning thereby analysing own personal strengths and weaknesses and formulating strategies for improvement
4. To develop a systematic understanding of knowledge and a critical awareness of the concepts and principles of BIM;
5. To develop a systematic understanding of knowledge and a critical awareness of how the traditional nature of the construction industry needs to transform in order to encompass the main benefits that can be realised from the adoption of BIM.
6. To develop a systematic understanding of knowledge and a critical awareness of data structures and standards, describing data exchange and interoperability needs in different use cases including an understanding of the requirements for the UK BIM framework
7. To develop a systematic understanding of knowledge and a critical awareness of BIM to facilitate the design, construction and operation of the digital built environment through collaborative multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary practices including communication with the key project stakeholders, coordination and clash detection, integration and managementof people, processes, and information

Word count/ duration (if applicable)
Module Aims

Your assessment should not exceed 3000 words and represent appropriately up to 40 hours of research application and writing

Feedback arrangement

You can expect to receive feedback within 15 working days of your submission and will be loaded into Blackboard

Support arrangements

You can obtain support for this assessment in tutorial sessions throughout the semester. Individual emails to staff you wish to speak to should be answered in two working days.

askUS

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Students are expected to learn and demonstrate skills associated with good academic conduct (academic integrity). Good academic conduct includes the use of clear and correct referencing of source materials. Here is a link to where you can find out more about the skills which students require http://www.salford.ac.uk/skills-for-learning.

Academic Misconduct is an action which may give you an unfair advantage in your academic work. This includes plagiarism, asking someone else to write your assessment for you or taking notes into an exam. The University takes all forms of academic misconduct seriously. You can find out how to avoid academic misconduct here https://www.salford.ac.uk/skills-for- learning.

Assessment Information

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Personal Mitigating Circumstances

If personal mitigating circumstances may have affected your ability to complete this assessment, you can find more information about personal mitigating circumstances procedure here.

Personal Tutor/Student Progression Administrator

If you have any concerns about your studies, contact your Personal Tutor or your Student Progression Administrator.

Assessment Criteria

Marks for your assessment will be allocated based on:

Criteria	Mark
The comprehensiveness of the report in covering the essential requirements of the task	30
Critical discussions and stand points	30
Conclusions and recommendations	20
The level of understanding and critical thinking	10
Good use of citation of quality references and quotations	10