Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Over the past decade, the relationship between building information modeling (BIM) for cost management and accuracy of cost estimates has become a subject of considerable debate among scholars and industry practitioners alike, particularly within the context of Selected Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria where operating conditions differ markedly from more developed markets.

Selected Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While building information modeling (BIM) for cost management is widely discussed in policy and industry circles, empirical evidence on its actual effect on accuracy of cost estimates within Selected Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria remains sparse and, in places, contradictory. This lack of localized, rigorous evidence makes it difficult for decision-makers to know with confidence whether current approaches to building information modeling (BIM) for cost management are helping or hindering accuracy of cost estimates — a gap this study sets out to close.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Cost Management on accuracy of cost estimates in Selected Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which building information modeling (BIM) for cost management influences accuracy of cost estimates within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with building information modeling (BIM) for cost management in relation to accuracy of cost estimates.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing building information modeling (BIM) for cost management in order to improve accuracy of cost estimates.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of building information modeling (BIM) for cost management on accuracy of cost estimates in Selected Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does building information modeling (BIM) for cost management influence accuracy of cost estimates within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with building information modeling (BIM) for cost management in relation to accuracy of cost estimates?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize building information modeling (BIM) for cost management in order to improve accuracy of cost estimates?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its academic contribution to the field of quantity surveying, this study has practical value for management teams within Selected Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria seeking to understand how building information modeling (BIM) for cost management translates into measurable outcomes around accuracy of cost estimates. It is equally useful to students and future researchers looking for a localized empirical reference on this relationship.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to Selected Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria, focusing specifically on how building information modeling (BIM) for cost management relates to accuracy of cost estimates within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.