1. PhD Proposal Texas A&M University 05/11/10 JAMES HALIBURTON AIA LEED AP CONTENTS Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice Introduction Problem Statement Theoretical Framework Research Objectives Guiding Statements Research Questions Hypotheses Methodology Expected Outcomes Limitations and Timeline

2. PhD Proposal Texas A&M University 05/11/10 JAMES HALIBURTON AIA LEED AP INTRODUCTION Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice Title: Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice Knowns BIM is altering the nature of professional design services. Fundamental shift in: Process/Method Technology/Communication Necessitates shift in business practices Unknowns How has BIM changed the delivery of professional design services? Are theoretical shifts in processes and methods happening? How are technology and communication changing? What new business models are emerging that support BIM processes?

3. PhD Proposal Texas A&M University 05/11/10 JAMES HALIBURTON AIA LEED AP PROBLEM STATEMENT Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice BIM Transition: Delivery of architectural services is well defined and tied to a specific process or method BIM is a fundamental shift in the process—models not drawings Problem Statement: The factors and strategies that can position a small firm for successful BIM adoption are not known or defined. There is no defined business model for the delivery of BIM enabled design services for the small professional practice.

4. PhD Proposal Texas A&M University 05/11/10 JAMES HALIBURTON AIA LEED AP THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice Information for practical application Authors state: The most important and least addressed issue of BIM implementation is the required change in business practices needed to successfully leverage the associated technologies and processes for beneficial practice.

5. PhD Proposal Texas A&M University 05/11/10 JAMES HALIBURTON AIA LEED AP THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice Innovations and Adoption Processes “Rate of Adoption” Perceptions derived from personal experiences BIM Complex tool Completely different process—fundamental change from accepted norm Assessing BIM adoption strategies and developing a framework for small firm adoption based on past failures and successes will require quantifying the personal experiences of both adopters and non- adopters and relating those experiences to actions taken by the organizations

6. PhD Proposal Texas A&M University 05/11/10 JAMES HALIBURTON AIA LEED AP THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice Small Firms as Organizations – Unit of Analysis Rogers defines an organization as “a stable system of individuals who work together to achieve common goals through a hierarchy of ranks and a division of labor”. BIM: Redistribution of labor Reorganization of processes Creation of new goals Assess how BIM is changing business models will require creating theoretical models of BIM enabled practice and evaluating them against actual processes derived from data

7. PhD Proposal Texas A&M University 05/11/10 JAMES HALIBURTON AIA LEED AP THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice Define four principal characteristics of small professional practices 1.Professional services are knowledge-intensive in nature. 2.Professional services are delivered by professional/knowledge workers. 3.Professional services are nonetheless co- produced between the knowledge worker and the client. 4.The majority of construction professional services are provided by small firms

8. PhD Proposal Texas A&M University 05/11/10 JAMES HALIBURTON AIA LEED AP THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice Resource-Based Innovation Market-Based Innovation Knowledge Based Innovation “The effective generation and implementation of a new idea which enhances over all organizational performance, through appropriate exploitative and explorative knowledge capital which develops and integrates relationship capital, structure capital, and human capital.”

9. PhD Proposal Texas A&M University 05/11/10 JAMES HALIBURTON AIA LEED AP THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice This investigation approaches BIM as a knowledge- based innovation. Human Capital Structure Capital Relationship Capital Knowledge Capital

10. PhD Proposal Texas A&M University 05/11/10 JAMES HALIBURTON AIA LEED AP RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice Three Central Goals: 1.Identify the current state of BIM adoption in small architectural and engineering firms and current perceptions and attitudes toward BIM in small architectural and engineering firms. This will establish and define a “culture of change” the precedes a shift to BIM. This will also relate the culture of change to successful BIM adoption strategies which can be compared to theoretical models 2.Analyze small firm BIM adoption processes. This process will record and evaluate the decision making processes of a small firm’s shift to BIM and any adoption strategies employed. It will also compare small firm design and production processes business models pre and post BIM adoption 3.Use this data to develop a strategic model for small firm BIM adoption and compare that model to and in depth case study on a small firm’s transition to BIM

11. PhD Proposal Texas A&M University 05/11/10 JAMES HALIBURTON AIA LEED AP GUIDING STATEMENTS Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice Guiding statements from general literature review and personal experience: 1.Major challenges in small firm BIM adoption lie in attitudes and perceptions of guiding personnel. 2.The underlying business model for a small firm is based on a CAD-centric design and delivery process; BIM does not readily support this business model. 3.The majority of small firm adopters operate at a BIM A level. 4.Small firms are social structures centered around workflows and production methods. When workflows and production methods change the social structures they support must adapt.

12. PhD Proposal Texas A&M University 05/11/10 JAMES HALIBURTON AIA LEED AP RESEARCH QUESTIONS Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice Primary Questions: 1.What is the current state of BIM adoption across small architectural and engineering firms? 2.What common factors are shared by small firm BIM adopters? 3.What are the attributes of small firms that successfully adopted BIM? 4.What strategies did small firm BIM adopters employ? 5.What impact did the shift to BIM have on the small firm business model? Secondary Questions: 1.How is BIM affecting the small firm design process? 2.What are the general attitudes and perceptions toward BIM in small AEC firms? 3.What benefits have small firms seen from adopting BIM and at what level (BIM A, BIM B) do they operate? 4.Is BIM allowing smaller firms to manage larger projects? 5.What new services, if any, is BIM allowing the small firm to provide?

13. PhD Proposal Texas A&M University 05/11/10 JAMES HALIBURTON AIA LEED AP RESEARCH HYPOTHESES Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice Hypotheses derived from innovation framework presented by Lu & Sexton 1.Successful BIM adoption at the small firm level will be reported when the three resources of Human, Relationship, and Structure Capital are integrated and BIM is treated as a Knowledge Resource. a.Sub-Hypothesis 1a.—Firms with integrated structure capital will report more easily and successfully adopting BIM methods and processes. b.Sub-Hypothesis 1b.—Firms which integrate all three aspects will report the decision to adopt BIM was based on a goal for long term advantage.

14. PhD Proposal Texas A&M University 05/11/10 JAMES HALIBURTON AIA LEED AP RESEARCH HYPOTHESES Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice Hypotheses derived from innovation framework presented by Lu & Sexton 2.Small Architectural practices will report difficulty or failure adopting BIM when the three resources of Human, Relationship, and Structure Capital are not integrated and BIM is not treated as a Knowledge Resource. a.Sub-Hypothesis 2a.—Firms that do not integrate structure capital will report difficulty or failure adopting BIM. b.Sub-Hypothesis 2b.—Firms that show no integration will report the decision to adopt BIM was project specific and not an entire shift.

15. PhD Proposal Texas A&M University 05/11/10 JAMES HALIBURTON AIA LEED AP RESEARCH VARIABLES Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice Independent Variables: Firm characteristics related to innovation, adoption, and individual strategies for BIM adoption Dependent Variables: Successful BIM adoption/transition Successful BIM Adoption Human Capital Relationship Captial Knowledge Captial Structure Capital

16. PhD Proposal Texas A&M University 05/11/10 JAMES HALIBURTON AIA LEED AP METHODOLOGY Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice Methodology: Primarily Qualitative methods: Survey Broadly distributed by AIA Focus Groups Respondents from survey and local contacts Case Study 2 possible firms, one success, one failure Survey method was employed with success in: Suermann, P. C. I., Raja (2007). Evaluating the Impact of Building Information Modeling (BIM) on Construction. 7th International Conference on Construction Applications of Vitrual Reality Reliability and Validity

17. PhD Proposal Texas A&M University 05/11/10 JAMES HALIBURTON AIA LEED AP EXPECTED OUTCOMES Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice Expected Outcomes: Take a snap shot of small firm BIM adoption and perceptions toward BIM. Produce a framework for BIM implementation and adoption in the small firm setting. Identify emerging small firm business models based on altered processes of design and production.

18. PhD Proposal Texas A&M University 05/11/10 JAMES HALIBURTON AIA LEED AP LIMITATIONS AND TIMELINE Building Information Modeling and Small Architectural Firms: An Analysis of the Impacts of BIM Transition on the Small Architectural Practice Limitations: Deals with small firms, but survey is expected to receive a range of respondents. Study will focus altering business models or methods of design and production. It is not meant to assess the appropriateness of BIM nor its efficacy as an architectural technology or process. Timeline: IRB approval – May 26 Survey Launch –June 15 Survey Close –July 31 Conduct Case Study/Studies June-July Conduct Follow-up focus groups—August Analyze Survey Results—August