BIM COORDINATORS SUMMIT 2023 | Where Minds Meet & Information Matters
Information Management Skills in ISO 19650: Competency Requirements and Challenges By Nicoleta Panagiotidou, Architect, BIM specialist, PhD Candidate UCL, Director at BIM Design Hub Embarking on the journey of mastering information management skills according to ISO 19650 is no easy task. It is a path that leads us into the project complexity, where data and processes interconnect and our ability to create, manage and exchange information is tested. While the industry has introduced a number of BIM maturity tools and third-party assessment procedures to access the competency requirements in BIM projects, still as an industry we don’t have a holistic aligned tool with standardized assessment criteria. Information management skills according to ISO 19650 The successful implementation of the international standard ISO 19650 relies on a range of technical and non-technical competencies that professionals need to possess to effectively manage information. Technical competencies encompass experience, the ability to undertake a role, understanding contracts and software skills. Non-technical competencies, also known as soft skills, include personal qualities such as resilience, planning, research, analysis, initiative, results orientation, and communication. ISO 19650-2 requires competency (knowledge and skills) to be considered by the appointing party (cl. 5.1.1) during the Assessment and Need and when establishing Tender Response requirements and evaluation criteria (cl. 5.2.3). Competency is also considered by the prospective lead appointed party when nominating information management functions during the Tender Response (cl. 5.3.1). A capability and capacity assessment is required to be taken by each of the prospective appointed parties during the Tender response (cl.5.3.3) which examines the ability of the team to manage and produce information according to the Exchange Information Requirements and the pre-appointment BIM Execution Plan. The assessment also includes the availability of information technology (IT) within the task team. The summary of the prospective delivery team’s assessment is delivered to the appointing party (cl.5.3.7) alongside the pre-BIM Execution Plan, the Mobilisation plan and the Risk assessment, as part of the Tender response for evaluation by the appointing party (Fig.1)
Fig.1 The activity of Tender response process map in accordance with ISO 19650-2. Measuring readiness: Understanding Capability and Capacity Assessment Capability refers to the ability to perform a specific given activity, for example by having the necessary experience, skills or technical resources and incorporates not only the abilities (skills) to do something but also the extend in which the abilities are executed. Capacity refers to the number of individuals involved and being able to complete an activity in the required time. Capability and capacity are both assessment metrics, but the way they are measured differs. Capacity is a fixed figure metric which could be expressed as a percentage of the total capacity and can be changed over time, as new members or teams are added to the delivery team. On the other hand, capability is a more complex metric and besides relative project experience, there is yet no wide industry consensus of how to measure it. However, the mobilization plan (Fig.2) that includes the project’s resources and technology, complements the capability assessment by enabling a clear information management workflow. This allows for identifying gaps and improvements in appointed parties’ abilities as long as there is a dedicated and open procedure to mobilization. TEST & DOCUMENT
PROCURE, IMPLEMENT & TEST
Information production methods & procedures
Software, hardware & IT infrastructure
DEVELOP
TEST
Additional shared resources
Information exchanges between task teams
TEST Information delivery to the appointing party
MOBILIZATION
PLAN
(ISO 19650-2)
CONFIGURE & TEST
DEVELOP & DELIVER Education (knowledge)
DEVELOP & DELIVER Training (skills)
The project's CDE
RECRUIT
CONFIGURE & TEST
SUPPORT
Additional members
New individuals
The delivery team’s distributed CDE
Fig.2 Mobilization plan according to ISO 19650-2.
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Nicoleta, founder and director of BIM Design Hub, drives digital skills development in construction through ISO 19650 and Autodesk training. With 15+ years’ architecture experience, she specializes in BIM standards, technology integration, and sustainable design. As an Autodesk certified instructor and active researcher, she’s leading innovations with dialogueBIM and promoting industry value through BIM initiatives. The guidance provided by the Centre for Digital Built Britain (based on PAS 91:2018 + A1:2017 and aligned to ISO 19650 series) presents 10 questions to be answered by the prospective teams as part of their Tender response (Fig.3). The questions address a variety of competencies such as the experience of working with a Common Data Environment, the capability to work with the ISO 19650 principles and requirements, the ability to produce and deliver information against the information standard and information production methods and procedures, the training to meet the appointment’s document suite and EIRs, BIM relatedCskills of a apacittraining, y & Capabevidence ility security management plan, access to information technologies and experience on quality control procedures. CAPABILITY AND CAPACITY ISO 19650 ASSESMENT CRITERIA experience of working with a CDE
team’s access to the ISO 19650 series
training needed to meet the appointment document suite, including EIRs
compliance of a security management plan
experience in quality control verification related to IR
capability to work with the ISO 19650 principles and requirements
produce and deliver information against an information standard and information production methods and procedures
BIM related skills training and assessment of capabilities
access to information technologies within the information standard and production methods and procedures
experience in quality control verification related to SMPs
Fig.3 Capability and capacity assessment criteria based on the Guidance by the Center for Digital Built Britain, University of Cambridge The evidence of compliance with the assessment requirements includes referencing platforms, evidence of past projects, the adoption of organizational and internal standards, experience or a plan of working with project information standards, and methods and procedures, training evidence or timeframes, a security management plan, information technologies and hardware, and quality control verification experience.