Contextualizing learning approaches which shape BIM for maintenance

Purpose– Studies of BIM examine the potential benefits in maintenance. There is also a perspective maintenance teams should be involved early in the building project process. The purpose of this paper is to address the lack of understanding on learning processes for BIM in maintenance in the early building project stage.Design/methodology/approach– Case study is used to examine the context maintenance learn about BIM. Maintenance managers and project managers were interviewed where discussions centred on a new build project which introduced BIM and how it would impact current practices.Findings– Learning happens at the early building project stage for BIM into maintenance influenced by external and internal contexts. The external context focuses on the UK government on being a catalyst for explorative learning. Meaning is added by maintenance teams through exploiting what is learnt from the external influence which is contextualized within current activities. Internal shaping of BIM is explored through building scenarios and exploitation learning occurs from past experiences of change which are inferred onto BIM. There is a necessary balance between exploration and exploitation learning in order to shape BIM for maintenance.Research limitations/implications– The paper is limited to one case study, however, it takes an in-depth look at the development of BIM in maintenance and how it is understood in maintenance.Originality/value– The contribution of the paper examines the context of learning in which BIM is shaped in maintenance.