Assessing current practices and critical success factors influencing BIM adoption in Sarawak’s construction industry

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to facilitate the industry on their readiness for building information modelling (BIM) adoption by assessing current practices and critical success factors (CSFs) of BIM adoption in the Sarawak construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach This paper used a quantitative approach using a questionnaire survey to assess the level of BIM adoption in the Sarawak construction industry by examining current BIM practices and CSF. A total of 345 responses were required, and 295 valid responses were obtained from construction industry players, resulting in a response rate of 85.5%. The data were analysed using descriptive analysis, specifically mean scores and ranking. The questionnaire comprised three sections: demographic information, current BIM practices and CSF of BIM.

Findings The findings identify the highest and lowest-ranked factors for construction performance (CP) and CSF within the scope of this study. The highest-ranked CP and CSF represent the most influential elements contributing to project success in the Sarawak construction industry, while the lowest-ranked factors indicate areas with minimal impact or lower perceived importance. These results highlight priority areas for industry stakeholders to focus on, as well as aspects that may require further investigation or improvement in future studies.

Research limitations/implications This study is limited to the construction industry in Sarawak, and the population size of contractors and developers was not considered in the research scope. Future studies should incorporate a broader geographical coverage across divisions and more categories of population size to enhance the reliability and generalisability of the results.

Originality/value There is no study on the current practices and CSF of BIM in the Sarawak construction industry yet. The significance of this study is to close the research gap by producing and documenting both variables for Sarawak.