This exploratory study outlines the business strategy that are being applied by small and medium-size enterprises (SME) construction companies in adopting Industrialised Building System (IBS) in Malaysia. Case study was employed as the research method in order to achieve the research objective as it can be used to explore and give further understanding of the research issues. Cross-case synthesis and pattern matching technique were applied for the analysis of the case study. Through the study, it was found that the SME construction companies could participate in the IBS business. The companies need to have capital and knowledge in IBS, position themselves as a total IBS solution provider to clients, target projects with large volumes of building components, employ a small number of fulltime employees as well as to have in-house capability and to outsource some facilities in the business operation. In conclusion, the involvement of SME construction companies in the IBS market is important to avoid the monopoly of IBS components supplies among the large companies and to potentially reduce the price of IBS so that it becomes more affordable to be used in the construction projects.

Malaysia is experiencing high economic growth which requires the construction industry to fulfill development demands. Building Information Modelling (BIM) had been widely publicized by the government in order to increase the industry’s productivity by instigating numerous initiatives aimed to spearhead its progression. In contrast with the aspiration, architects as key players of construction industry are still facing issues in adopting BIM into practice. Previous researches had broadly covered about BIM in construction industry, but few concentrations in specific to the local architect thus imposing gap of knowledge. In addressing the issues, the research aim to probe the current state of BIM implementation, primarily on the challenges that hinders its adoption. The BIM factors which covers people, process, policy and technology were derived and investigated through the use of 322 questionnaires distributed to architects at management and operational level. The study revealed the key barriers that contributes towards the problem is within the people factor, where majority highlighted the lacked of skilled and experienced BIM workforce which contributes towards steep learning environment as well as high cost of applying BIM. Consequently, several key strategic solutions had been indicated through both external and internal factors in addressing the challenge of BIM. Results suggested that there is a need of further support from the industry’s professional bodies, development of legal instruments, BIM enforcement, specific BIM education as well as BIM R&D programs.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract