Life in a Virtual Building: Some Best Practices For Those Who Are New To BIM

Early Preparation

Content development, such as blocks, families & objects needs to be tackled early in the project schedule.
Good Project Template: It takes time to make a good project template but it pays for it self quickly. Your project template may never be perfect and you will always be tweaking it, so get it in good shape then get your project started!
Be prepared before you start schematic design, but the DD Phase is the foundation for success: Create your project specific content you need during the SD phase while the designers are doing their thing.
The SD phase is messy. You may want to leave the mess behind in SD. Copy what is worth keeping over into your fresh new project template for design development.

Communication

Your communication habits will need to change from what you are used to with CAD
Changes to the model can effect everyone’s work.
Teams working in a shared model environment need to communicate in real-time as much as possible.
Sit close to each other.
Instant Messaging is helpful (ArchiCAD has it built-in)
Learn how share (again?).
Standards and good documentation are still important. Provide easy to read materials such as keyboard shortcut charts.
Compose logical easy to follow standards
Create model relationship diagrams for your team. See image below...

Be Neat and Considerate

Don’t be a model hog, you're not in CAD anymore.
The mess you make is the mess you clean up!
Consult the model manager before redefining things, unless you are 100% sure of yourself.
Do not assume anything - Never delete, overwrite, move or edit any wall that you have not drawn, or that's not your responsibility, without asking the relevant team member.

Well Trained Staff with Good Attitude

The paradigm shift to BIM requires a staff that can adapt to change. Whiners and complainers need to toughen up and deal with the fact that BIM is a many faceted challenge.
Don’t put rookies (no BIM experience) and computer illiterate people in your models.
Small changes and mistakes can cause major repercussions, so keep the knuckleheads away from the core 3D structure of your model.
Everyone on your project team should understand the process and nature of a complete construction document set.
Don’t hesitate to get professional help if your scared.

Coordination With Outsiders

Coordination between software formats can be a challenge: Pay attention to how well things are converted. Review your files before you pass them along.
3D Model coordination: Takes time to setup if you are working with differing programs, but is well worth the effort. Conduct regular coordination meetings
If your consultant is not using BIM or 3D, you may want to make it 3D yourself
Architects can build the structural systems in their model if the structural consultant is all 2D.

Workflow