While competency is a critical aspect of ISO 19650 projects, measuring competency and accessing organizational capabilities can present significant challenges. To address this, the industry is exploring company-wide BIM Accreditation and Certification Schemes that align with the standard's requirements. The third-party schemes aim to demonstrate an organization's capability based on its role and business activities, granting them an industry-recognized badge.
These process-driven certifications validate that the organization possesses the necessary resources and knowledge to effectively manage and deliver information in accordance with ISO 19650. Furthermore, periodic project-BIM assessments offer valuable insights into an organization's digital transformation journey and help identify future investment areas. Despite these benefits, the industry still faces challenges in implementing ISO 19650 assessment and certification schemes.
Complexity of assessment
The assessment of BIM maturity and competency in ISO 19650 projects is a complex task that involves evaluating multiple dimensions, including processes, technology, people, collaboration, and standards compliance. The multidimensional nature of the standard introduces complexity into the assessment process, as it requires a comprehensive understanding of all these aspects and their interrelationships.
Subjectivity in assessment
Subjectivity plays a role in BIM maturity and competency assessment, as it involves subjective judgments and interpretations. This subjectivity can lead to inconsistencies in evaluations. Moreover, different assessment schemes may have varying perspectives on what constitutes a particular level of BIM maturity, making it challenging to ensure objectivity and reliability in the assessment process.
Evolving standards
BIM implementation according to ISO 19650 is a journey of continuous improvement, rather than a static concept. As BIM standards, technologies, and practices evolve, the assessment criteria need to be regularly updated to reflect these changes. Keeping assessment methods aligned with industry advancements can be a challenge.
Limited awareness
There is a limited awareness and understanding of ISO 19650 maturity stages among many stakeholders in the AEC industry, including clients, contractors, and some professionals. This lack of awareness can hinder accurate self-assessment and the overall assessment of BIM maturity and competency in ISO 19650 projects.
Cost and resources implications
Conducting BIM assessments requires dedicated resources, including time, expertise, and technology. Small- and medium-sized organizations or projects with limited budgets and resources may struggle to allocate the necessary resources for comprehensive and robust assessment processes. This limitation can impact the accuracy and reliability of the assessment outcomes.
Lack of clarity in skills requirements
ISO 19650 projects often require individuals to possess specific technical skills related to BIM software, information modelling, and data management. However, the standard may not provide detailed clarity on the project specific skill sets or proficiency levels required. This ambiguity can make it challenging for individuals and organizations to identify and assess the competency gaps within their teams in a specific project.
Evolving competency frameworks
In the industry, there are several BIM maturity and assessment models, such as the NBIMS CMM, the UI BIM Proficiency Index, the BIM CAT, the BIM Excellence (BIMe) Framework to name a few. These tools address BIM maturity in different ways, some highlight the technical aspects, other focus on standards and processes and other at the organizational and process level. The lack of universally accepted benchmarks makes it difficult to consistently evaluate and compare the level of BIM maturity across different projects and organizations worldwide.
Addressing ISO 19650 individual and company certification challenges requires collaborative efforts from industry stakeholders, including standardization bodies, professional associations, and project participants. Developing universally accepted standardized assessment criteria, promoting awareness and education and aligning assessment methods with evolving standards are crucial steps to overcome these challenges and achieving excellence in information management within ISO 19650 projects.