The Role of Experience of Practice for Perceptions of a new Technology – The Case of Building Information Modelling

This research in progress paper aims at exploring how the role of experience of practice influence users’ perceptions of an information system. The technology under study is Building Information Modelling (BIM), a technology, or methodology, which has been in focus in the building and construction industry during the last decade. The data is collected via a survey to practitioners, with and without BIM-experiences, in medium sized contractor companies, and last year’s bachelor students in civil engineering. The total number of respondents was 205. The results show that students perceived usefulness of BIM-applications is significantly higher than users’, but both groups make similar rankings of the applications. Moreover, students’ evaluation of benefits and potential obstacles shows mixed results when compared with users. Surprisingly, both groups make similar evaluations of need for structural changes if the potential of technology would be use

Taking industry seriously in ICT research – The case of building and construction industry

Industry has received little attention in Information systems research as a factor explaining information and communication technology (ICT) related activities in organizations. By drawing on a case study in the building and construction industry in Sweden, the aim of the paper is to contribute to an enhanced knowledge on how industry specific features shape the adoption and use of ICT. It is concluded adoption and deployment of ICT is shaped by the interplay among three main dimensions of industry: the market and production environment (shaped by specific interaction patterns among its features), the socio-cognitive environment, and institutional actors. The outcomes of this interplay will “fit” material features of ICT, implying certain ICT applications are preferred in an industry. The suggested framework can be used as a point of departure when ICT-related activities in an industry are analysed. But interaction patterns among features and features to be included in the framework will vary among industries

Barriers for Digital Transformation: The Role of Industry

Less attention has been paid to why certain industries, like the building and construction, is lagging behind in digital transformation. The question can be raised if there are characteristics on industry level that constrain digital transformation? The aim of the paper is to explore how the interactions among four industry key actors; architects, clients, contractors and consultants shape industry characteristics and the options for digital transformation through adoption and use of digital technology. The aim will be achieved by individual- and focus group interviews with representatives for the key actor groups and how they perceive Building Information Modelling (BIM). It is concluded that the characteristics of the industry; the focus on practical day to day action, a heterogeneous client side who have difficulties in putting demands on contractors and sub-contractors due to lack of competencies, and a product that raise barriers for process innovations do effectively constrain digital transformation

Association of Researchers in Construction Management

Design errors are claimed to account for 26% of the cost of defects, these in turn are stated to encompass 2-9% of production cost for building and constructions. Lack of knowledge and information has been identified as a major reasons for design errors. Recently Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been considered as a mean for reducing design errors. However, limited research has been conducted on the role of BIM as a means for transfer and sharing knowledge in order to reduce design errors. The aim of the paper is to analyse BIM's role of facilitating knowledge and expertise sharing in order to prevent design errors. The aim is achieved by analysing a case study of design errors in a construction project. By drawing on the concept of boundary object it is confirmed that BIM can serve a mean for preventing design errors by facilitating knowledge and expertise sharing, across discipline, time and space, and professional boundaries. Depending the kind of boundary knowledge and expertise should be shared across, different challenges emerge in organizing the knowledge and expertise sharin

Association of Researchers in Construction Management

Design errors are claimed to account for 26% of the cost of defects, these in turn are stated to encompass 2-9% of production cost for building and constructions. Lack of knowledge and information has been identified as a major reasons for design errors. Recently Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been considered as a mean for reducing design errors. However, limited research has been conducted on the role of BIM as a means for transfer and sharing knowledge in order to reduce design errors. The aim of the paper is to analyse BIM's role of facilitating knowledge and expertise sharing in order to prevent design errors. The aim is achieved by analysing a case study of design errors in a construction project. By drawing on the concept of boundary object it is confirmed that BIM can serve a mean for preventing design errors by facilitating knowledge and expertise sharing, across discipline, time and space, and professional boundaries. Depending the kind of boundary knowledge and expertise should be shared across, different challenges emerge in organizing the knowledge and expertise sharin

From vision to integration : Infusion of telemedicine : a process of translation

During the 1990's high expectations were put on telemedicine technology in health care organizations, which can be seen as a reflexion of the society's interest in IT. The use of tele-medicine is expected to improve the quality and decrease costs of health care services. However, if these expectations are to be attained the visions have to be translated into fields of application in local settings where the technology would be used. This could be seen as an infusion process, which means that the technology would incrementally be used in a comprehensive and integrated manner. In this thesis, four Swedish telemedicine projects are analyzed. The approach used is that of Actor network theory (ANT), which has enabled the development of a theory of the infusion process, implementation of IT-projects, and parts of ANT, e.g. the model of the translation process and the notion of inscription. By using the concept of translation, it is possible to see the infusion process as a process where the generic features of the technology (transmitting sound and pictures in real time) are translated into concrete activities in local settings. These fields of application are realized by the mobilization of different task-based networks, where the roles of the actors are defined by the task to be solved. An iterated mobilization of the network implies further that the network will become stabilized, which is a central dimension in the process of infusion. Another way to understand the process of infusion is to describe it as cycles of implementation, where one cycle symbolizes the implementation of a field of application, which is a result of the translation of the generic features of the technology. The inscriptions in the studied technology allow a high degree of flexibility of use and flexibility of action. The flexibility means that fields of application ought to be developed in interaction between actors in local settings, and supporting programs of action are to be identified, or developed, in order to integrate technology use into daily routines. The considerable numbers of failed of IT-project implementations can be explained by the fact that a traditional planning perspective has been used on technologies, which allow a high degree of flexibility of use and flexibility of action. However, by categorizing inscriptions in technological artifacts, it becomes possible to predict what kinds of implementation strategies are appropriate for different kinds of technologies. By viewing the implementation of open networking technologies as a process of translation, the infusion process will be facilitated and a comprehensive and integrated use of technology will be enabled.digitalisering@um

When Big Visions Meet The Pragmatic practice : Follow The Institutional Logicor Personal Benefits?

In recent years Building information modelling (BIM) has been considered as ameans for transforming the building and construction industry by introducingsignificant changes in the industry for all stages of the construction process. However,when new technologies are promoted they are almost considered as a magic bulletthat should transform an industry, or an organization to the better. By drawing on theconcepts of institutional logics and sense making, and a case study over 12 years oftelemedicine use in a Swedish county, the objective of the paper is to analyse whatactors in the building and construction industry can learn from other societal sectorsimplementing and using new ICT. It is concluded that the use of technology is heavilyshaped by significant actor groups' sense making of the technology, that is groundedboth an institutional logic and what benefits or disadvantages the group perceive fromtechnology use. What can be learnt from the telemedicine case is the importance ofanalysing underlying reasons to why an application is accepted or not

From vision to integration : Infusion of telemedicine : a process of translation

During the 1990's high expectations were put on telemedicine technology in health care organizations, which can be seen as a reflexion of the society's interest in IT. The use of tele-medicine is expected to improve the quality and decrease costs of health care services. However, if these expectations are to be attained the visions have to be translated into fields of application in local settings where the technology would be used. This could be seen as an infusion process, which means that the technology would incrementally be used in a comprehensive and integrated manner. In this thesis, four Swedish telemedicine projects are analyzed. The approach used is that of Actor network theory (ANT), which has enabled the development of a theory of the infusion process, implementation of IT-projects, and parts of ANT, e.g. the model of the translation process and the notion of inscription. By using the concept of translation, it is possible to see the infusion process as a process where the generic features of the technology (transmitting sound and pictures in real time) are translated into concrete activities in local settings. These fields of application are realized by the mobilization of different task-based networks, where the roles of the actors are defined by the task to be solved. An iterated mobilization of the network implies further that the network will become stabilized, which is a central dimension in the process of infusion. Another way to understand the process of infusion is to describe it as cycles of implementation, where one cycle symbolizes the implementation of a field of application, which is a result of the translation of the generic features of the technology. The inscriptions in the studied technology allow a high degree of flexibility of use and flexibility of action. The flexibility means that fields of application ought to be developed in interaction between actors in local settings, and supporting programs of action are to be identified, or developed, in order to integrate technology use into daily routines. The considerable numbers of failed of IT-project implementations can be explained by the fact that a traditional planning perspective has been used on technologies, which allow a high degree of flexibility of use and flexibility of action. However, by categorizing inscriptions in technological artifacts, it becomes possible to predict what kinds of implementation strategies are appropriate for different kinds of technologies. By viewing the implementation of open networking technologies as a process of translation, the infusion process will be facilitated and a comprehensive and integrated use of technology will be enabled.digitalisering@um

The Role of Technological Frames of Reference and Institutional Logics in the use of ICT

The concept of technological frames of reference (TFR) has been used to uncover people’s sense making of information and communication technologies (ICT), in order to deepen the understanding of ICT use. But the role of the organization’s institutional context in the development of TFR has been overlooked, and most studies of TFR has been snapshots of frames. In order to contribute to the knowledge of ICT-use, the aim of the paper is to analyse how the interplay between institutional logic and TFR evolves over time. The aim will be pursued by the analysis of a case study of telemedicine use in a Swedish county during a 12 years period. It is concluded that the framing process moves between different levels of understanding guided by varying institutional logics. The understanding moves from an abstract level of what is best for the organization, to an understanding what is best for the group. Significant actors play a crucial role establishing dominant frames, or in re-framing the understanding the ICT. In this process institutional logics is drawn upon either to initially create a legitimacy for the ICT-use, or as an argument for non-use