This conceptual model represents BIM learning as a triangular interaction between BIM learners, BIM learning providers and the BIM learning spectrum.

BIM learners

BIM learners are all individuals pursuing knowledge, skill or expertise in BIM technologies or workflows. BIM learners include practitioners and future practitioners; within any Design, Construction and Operation discipline; and at any position or role.

BIM learning providers

BIM learning providers are commercial and not-for-profit entities providing formal or informal BIM education, training or professional development. BIM learning providers include individual trainers, registered training organizations, universities, vocational institutions, industry association and communities of practice.

BIM learning spectrum

The BIM learning spectrum includes all BIM topics that can be learned by BIM learners or taught by BIM learning providers. The learning spectrum represents both structured and unstructured information, including well-defined, classified and aggregated BIM competency items.

The collaborative education framework (CEF) has been developed as a joint effort between academia and industry in Australia. CEF was first published as part of the AIA/CA BIM in Practice, BIM Education position papers (AIA/CA, 2012) and is built around the principles, models, taxonomies, and classifications of the BIM Framework. CEF includes six main complementary components:

Component A. Identifying BIM Competencies

BIM competencies will be identified through peer-reviewed research, industry surveys, and the specialized knowledge and experience of industry associations.

Component B. Classifying BIM Competencies

BIM competencies will be clearly and consistently defined through a BIM dictionary clarifying BIM terms and acronyms across all topics; a syntax governing how BIM competencies are structured; a top-level taxonomy organizing BIM competency items into tiers, sets and topics; and a number of classifications (e.g. role groups, disciplines, difficulty levels, delivery modes, etc.) to filter BIM competencies to match learner requirements.

Component C. Collating Competencies and Developing BIM Learning Modules

A dedicated online BIM learning hub (refer to BIMexcellence.net) will be developed to collate competencies, and organize the development and delivery of BIM learning modules.

Component D. An Industry Framework for Professional Development

A cooperation framework between industry associations will be formulated to encourage BIM-focused, collaborative Continuing Professional Development (CPD) across disciplines, specialities and industry trades.

Component E. An Academic Framework for BIM Education

An academic framework for tertiary and vocational BIM education will be adopted/adapted to encourage academic institutions to contribute-to and benefit-from the BIM learning hub.

Component F. The BIM Institute

A BIM institute will be initiated to facilitate the development and delivery of BIM learning across industry sectors; develop and maintain classification systems for organizing BIM learning; develop and maintain the BIM learning hub; develop a coordination framework between professional associations for the purpose of multidisciplinary BIM training and continuing professional development; initiate BIM collaboration labs for sharing knowledge and testing/demonstrating new workflows; conduct BIM-usage surveys; publish relevant papers and reports; and act as a central social space for all BIM learners and BIM learning providers.

  Note: the above image has been updated on May 11, 2016 -  Original Image

This partial workflow (a subtype of conceptual models) uses BIM competency items from across several Competency Sets to clarify a specific process - how to initiate a collaborative BIM project. The BPMN concepts are represented at low detail and can be expanded into several sub-processes populated with competency items at higher levels of detail.

The workflow  illustrates how individual BIM competencies are used to generate BIM workflows through a structured graphical language – shown here using Business Process Modelling and Notation (BPMN). Other uses for structured competency items include:

1. Populating task lists for initiating projects and processes (e.g. a step-by-step guide for importing geometry drawn outside a Gehry Technologies Digital Project) or quality- checking project deliverables (e.g. a check list for auditing a model’s quality);
2. Generating standardized mind maps, workflow diagrams and similar charts to clarify BIM implementation activities, data exchange and collaboration processes; and
3. Establishing project requirements for the purposes of procuring services - e.g. through using competency items to populate a request for qualification or request for proposal.

The Triple A Competency Model is a knowledge engine which uses structured BIM competency items to perform three complementary actions: competency Acquisition, competency Application and competency Assessment. For example, this is a structured competency item: "“prepare a 3D model for the purpose of linking it to a Construction Schedule” which can be used in three different ways to:

1. ASSESS (measure): Do you have the ability to prepare a 3D model for the purpose of linking it to a Construction Schedule?
2. ACQUIRE (learn): At the end of the course, students of <<course name>> would have learned how to prepare a 3D model for the purpose of linking it to a Construction Schedule.
3. APPLY (implement): Use <<software tool>> to prepare a 3D model for the purpose of linking it to a Construction Schedule.

This conceptual model identifies several units for the purposes of competency analysis:

1. Individual competency is the unit measure of an individual’s ability to conduct an activity and deliver an outcome. Individual competency applies to a single person irrespective of role, position or employment status;
2. Group competency is the arithmetic sum of several individual competencies but – as a measure - does not reflect the efficiencies gained or lost from such an aggregation;
3. Organizational capability is the unit measure of an organization’s ability and its sub-organizational units (branches, departments, business streams, etc.); and
4. Team capability is the unit measure of team members’ combined abilities. As opposed to group competency, team capability reflects the routines and dynamics of aggregation (e.g. team compatibility, communication and collaboration). There are at least three sub-units of team capability:

• Work Team (WT) capability applies to a purposeful group of individuals working together to deliver a project/outcome within an organization or an organizational unit;
• Project Team (PT) capability applies to a purposeful group of individuals working together to deliver a project/outcome across two or more organizations; and
• Organizational Team (OT) capability applies to two or more organizations working together (through partnering, alliancing, etc.) to pursue a common mission or deliver a common project/outcome.

There are three Competency Tiers within the Competency Hierarchy - Core, Domain and Execution:

• The CORE Competencies Tier reflects the personal abilities of individuals enabling them to conduct a measureable activity or deliver a measurable outcome. This core tier is subdivided into the following four competency sets: Foundational traits – personal attributes inherent in an individual that cannot be acquired through training or education; Situational enablers – personal attributes related to nationality, language and other criteria which may play a relevant role when delivering a service or a product; Qualifications and licenses – personal attributes related to the existence or sufficiency of academic degrees, scientific publications, professional accreditations, trade/skill certificates or licences; and Historical indicators – attributes related to employment history, project experiences (including project types and sizes), roles played and positions held.
• The DOMAIN Competencies Tier refers to the professional abilities of individuals, the means they use to perform multi-task activities and the methods they employ to deliver outcomes with complex requirements. There are eight competency sets within this tier:  four primary sets - Managerial, Functional, Technical and Supportive - representing the main types of professional ability; and four secondary sets - Administration, Operation, Implementation and Research & Development - identifying those abilities which are formed by the overlap of primary sets.
• The EXECUTION Competencies Tier represents an individual’s ability to use specific tools and techniques to conduct an activity or deliver a measureable outcome. The ability to use a software tool (e.g. a 3D model authoring tool), drive a vehicle (e.g. a 30 tonne tipper truck) or operate specialized field equipment (e.g. a laser scanner) are examples of execution tier competencies. Also, the ability to employ specialized techniques (e.g. programming, drawing and plastering) is also classified under this tier.

The BIM Competency Hierarchy includes three BIM competency tiers which are divided into several BIM competency sets which are, in turn, subdivided into BIM competency topics. These tiers, sets, topics - and their granular subdivision into competency items - represent all the measureable abilities, outcomes and activities of individuals who deliver model-based products and services.

Competency Flow Framework (Full-size), replaces Competency Flow Model v1.0 (2013)
 

Modified Spe 24, 2016: The Competency Flow Framework describes how individual competencies can be identified, classified, aggregated and then used/re-used. The framework includes a number of components:

• Competency Identification through analysing job advertisement; dissecting BIM-specific roles as defined within BIM guides, BIM management plans and similar documents; reviewing academic literature and industry publications; adopting and adapting formal skill inventories, competency pools, and accreditation criteria; and harvesting competency requirements from industry associations, organizations and subject matter experts.
• Competency Classification under tiers, sets and topics - refer to BIM Competency Hierarchy and Competency Tiers
• Competeny Aggregation into a structured inventory to allow their custom collation and retrieval (please refer to www.BIMexcellence.com to learn how classified BIM competencies have been aggregated through a database-driven web solution)
• Competency Use and Reuse to perform three complementary actions: competency acquisition, competency application and competency assessment - please refer to Competency Engine

 Individual Competency Index  (v1.4 full size - older version v1.2)

The Individual Competency Index (ICI) measures both  conceptual knowledge (referred to as knowledge) and procedural knowledge (referred to as skill) which are needed by individuals in order to perform a defined activity or deliver a measureable outcome. 

The ICI identifies five competency levels (0-4):

• Level 0 (none) denotes a lack of competence in a specific area or topic;
• Level 1 (basic) denotes an understanding of fundamentals and some initial practical application;
• Level 2 (intermediate) denotes a solid conceptual understanding and some practical application;
• Level 3 (advanced) denotes significant conceptual knowledge and practical experience in performing a competency to a consistently high standard; and
• Level 4 (expert) denotes extensive knowledge, refined skill and prolonged experience in performing a defined competency at the highest standard.

The index also identifies two competency divides: the learning divide separating level 0 from level 1, and the time/repetition divide separating level 3 from level 4.

However, although the ICI measures both knowledge and skill, it does not measure personal traits (typically referred to as attitude) which require specialized psychometric indices similar to Myers-Briggs and RIASEC. Also, the ICI only measures the abilities of individuals and - by extension, the aggregate abilities of a group of individuals -  but does not measure the abilities of organizations, organizational teams or larger organizational scales (refer to BIM Capability Stages and BIM Maturity Levels).

For a BIM perspective of how to apply the ICI in assessing BIM competencies, please refer to this article on BIMThinkspace.

Updated April 18, 2014...The BIM Maturity Matrix (BIm³) is a knowledge tool which incorporates many BIM Framework components for the purpose of performance measurement and improvement: BIM Capability Sets; BIM Maturity Index; Organizational Hierarchy; and BIM Capability Stages.