Investigating the Role of BIM in Stakeholder Management: Evidence from a Metro-Rail Project

Abstract

Building information modeling (BIM) is a technology that promotes increased levels of collaboration among teams involved in projects. This research work aims to map the advantages of BIM with the various stakeholder management (SM) practices being adopted. Through semistructured interviews with project personnel on a metro-rail project, 17 advantages of BIM were coded. These were grouped under five constructs: (1) asset tagging, (2) design optimization, (3) progress monitoring, (4) quick decision-making, and (5) cost monitoring and control. Additionally, 21 SM strategies were determined from the literature, which was analyzed using micro-interlocutor analysis (MIA). These were grouped under three groups and represented pillars of the SM process. These BIM advantages were then mapped with the three SM principles, i.e., stakeholder communication and collaboration, engagement, and satisfaction, which resulted in the generation of a conceptual BIM-SM model. The findings of this study revealed major implications and benefits of BIM adoption in a mega construction project in India and presented an important aspect of the role it can play in achieving better SM.