BIM Management as digital leadership: an evidence-informed conceptual framework for multidisciplinary design coordination

Digitalisation in the built environment has shifted Building Information Modelling (BIM) management from technical oversight towards strategic digital leadership. However, current competency frameworks remain siloed and technically centric, failing to address the complexities of multidisciplinary design coordination. This study develops a novel, evidence-informed conceptual framework by synthesising 49 sources, comprising 47 peer-reviewed studies and two professional standards. Using the Scientific Procedures and Rationales for Systematic Literature Reviews (SPAR-4-SLR) protocol and a quality-weighted Evidence-to-Proposition (E2P) matrix, the research identifies four interdependent domains: technical and information management; collaborative design coordination; leadership and communication; and sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) integration. This synthesis generates seven confidence-rated propositions (P1–P7). The findings reveal that relational and integrative competencies, specifically leadership, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement, act as critical ‘bridges’ connecting technical modelling with multidisciplinary design coordination. Analysis of regional trends highlights a ‘technical ceiling’ in emerging economies, where hierarchical structures often restrict BIM Managers to software-centric tasks, contrasted with the governance-oriented roles prevalent in advanced digital markets. By anchoring these observations in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Diffusion of Innovations (DOI), and Ecological Modernisation Theory (EMT), the framework provides a rigorous basis for modernising design management curricula, professional accreditation, and digital leadership strategies. This study ultimately clarifies the socio-technical enablers required to improve workflow integration and collaboration in Construction 4.0 environments.