Knowledge Management for Sustainable Construction
Competitiveness
Introduction
The primary aims of this proposed comprehensive
study on knowledge management (KM) are
to investigate the challenges associated
with the management of knowledge resources
and capabilities for construction. Also,
to establish how effective the strategies
for managing these resources and capabilities
are at contributing to project success
and sustained organisational competitiveness.
The targeted objectives for addressing
the above aims are:
- To identify the specific features of
knowledge production and application
in the construction
industry – i.e. identifying what
are the key types of knowledge resources
and capabilities relevant to the sector
(e.g. theoretical construction, engineering
and design knowledge, plus experiential
knowledge including physical [motor
neurone] skills, etc.).
- To investigate and document the main
challenges (including economic, social,
technological,
environmental) associated with the
implementation, exploitation and embedding
of KM practices
within construction organisations of
varying sizes and specialisms.
- To examine and document the different
approaches (including processes and
technologies) used for knowledge production,
absorption
(across boundaries), capture & retrieval,
transfer, sharing, exploitation and
for measuring and comparing KM performance;
together with their relative effectiveness
as knowledge management tools. It will
also investigate and document the vagaries
of factors that lead to successful
KM practices
in different sizes of organisations
and in organisations that are at different
levels of KM implementation.
- To explore knowledge management practices
in other sectors (e.g. manufacturing,
finance, IT, retail) with the view of
documenting
good and best practices for the benefit
of the construction industry.
- To examine the backgrounds and on-going
training and skills of knowledge management
specialists. Map out their career paths,
examine and document the impact of
this new role on the future of the construction
industry
- Produce a study report, which could
be used as a policy document and would
influence
the direction of both government and
those concerned with improving the industry’s
performance.
- Produce a training material on KM and
disseminate the outputs of the study
on KM widely in the industry.
- The proposed programme of research
will engage partners, users and
beneficiaries from small, medium and
large organisations
as well as clients, contractors
and suppliers.
The results will deliver a substantial
and up to date body of knowledge
in the subject area from varying industrial
perspectives,
as well as from previous studies
of
KM and current KM practice. This
will help
identify benefits that can accrue
from effective knowledge management,
and
will provide training materials,
reports, workshops
and publications that will help
raise awareness of the value of KM and
how it can be successfully
developed within construction organisations.
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