Exploring Individual Functional Competency in Organisational Building Information Modelling Environments: Architects’ Experiences and Perspectives
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Abstract
The recent National Building Information Modelling (BIM) Roadmap 2030 in Malaysia repositions BIM as a core organisational capability embedded within existing professional roles, rather than relying on external BIM specialists. Architects, traditionally seen as natural leaders, are now expected to integrate BIM into daily practice, making project success increasingly dependent on internal organisational readiness. However, most studies remain project-focused, overlooking how functional competencies—the application of cognitive and personal skills in practice—are enacted within organisations, particularly from the perspective of individuals experiencing them firsthand. Therefore, this study aims to gain an in-depth understanding of architects’ functional competency in specific BIM-related tasks within organisational settings. This qualitative study employed written account exercises and in-depth, semi-structured interviews to unpack the subjective experiences of architects within such an environment. Thematic analysis revealed five key functional competency themes: business management, process management, people management, technology management and knowledge management. These findings advance the competency literature by providing a grounded understanding of how architects enact functional competencies in organisational BIM environments. They also provide a foundation for developing theoretical frameworks that link individual BIM competencies to broader organisational capabilities. Practically, the findings support organisations in anticipating market trends, designing change management strategies and fostering a culture of continuous BIM improvement. Additionally, the identified themes can inform the development of benchmarking tools to assess and enhance organisational BIM capability.
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