Information Standards Enabling or Constraining Innovative Hospital Facilities? -A Scandinavian Case

Abstract

The losses from suboptimal interoperability in IT supported design, production, and operation of health care facilities are tantamount. In these years new built of hospitals in Scandinavia could be realized in a more efficient and innovative way if using information standards. This paper inquires into whether computerized information standards enable or constrain innovation in public procurement of buildings. In architectural and engineering design of public buildings the project based product development tends be done in constellations of firms in interorganisational contracting, which do not provide stability or room for innovation. A large hospital project was investigated through interviews, documents and observations. The effects of implementing building information standards are both inter-and intraorganisational. The building client claims to have saved money, through better structured building component data that gave considerable positive effects during tendering. The IT-suppliers develop IT-tools, and the AEC companies can commence develop services preparing for new markets.