The nexus of key attributes influencing the social collaboration among BIM actors: a review of construction literature

Abstract

The rapid advancement of Building Information Modelling (BIM) continues to influence the paradigm shift of collaboration, focusing on social collaboration among multi-actors in construction projects. However, scholars indicated that there is a limitation related to the inability of multi-actors to successful practice the social centric-based collaboration in the projects. This article reviews and identifies the key attributes influencing the success of social collaboration among BIM actors in construction projects. The systematic literature review (SLR) approach was adopted using the SCOPUS database. A total of 136 articles were analysed through content analysis, resulting a total of 40 key attributes influencing social collaboration. These key attributes were then characterized by two main categories ‘Direct Relationship Oriented Attributes’ and ‘Indirect Relationship Oriented Attributes’. These attributes were then put forward for inclusion in a conceptual framework that consists of two main layers of a circle which include the ‘inner layer circle’ (the main roles influencing social collaboration in a project) and ‘outer layer circle’ (acting as a 'push factor' to govern and assist the project organization). The proposed framework would provide a focal point to construction-related organisations to enable actors to embrace social collaboration in the virtual environment.