Leadership-Driven Pathways to BIM Maturity: Integrating Transformational Dimensions in Latin American AEC Digital Transformation-A Scoping Review

Introduction The adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in Latin American Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) organisations remains uneven, as implementation barriers extend beyond technical proficiency to include organisational readiness and capability development gaps. Although leadership is recognised as a driver of digital transformation, the relationship between transformational leadership dimensions and BIM maturity stages remains underexplored. Methods This study conducted a scoping review using the Scopus database and PRISMA-ScR-guided screening procedures. Of the 576 initial records, 72 publications were retained for bibliometric mapping with Bibliometrix and VOSviewer, and 14 studies met eligibility criteria for qualitative synthesis through iterative coding. Bass and Riggio’s transformational leadership dimensions were cross-mapped against Succar’s three-stage BIM maturity framework. Results The review identified stage-sensitive leadership patterns across BIM maturity. Idealised influence and individualised consideration were salient in early adoption; intellectual stimulation became critical for process redesign and collaboration; and inspirational motivation gained strategic importance in advanced integration contexts. Bibliometric findings showed increasing interest after 2021 and a thematic shift from technical to organisational and human factors. Discussion These findings suggest that BIM maturity progression should be understood not only as a technological transition but also as a leadership-mediated organisational change process. Leadership behaviours appear to vary by maturity stage, particularly in contexts marked by institutional asymmetries and uneven capability development. Conclusion This study proposes an exploratory conceptual framework linking transformational leadership dimensions to BIM maturity stages. The framework provides a theoretically grounded basis for aligning leadership with maturity and supports future empirical validation across diverse AEC contexts.