Moderating interdepartmental knowledge communication in process improvement of Sasole Construction Company

by

Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

Abstract

In the past, there was no structured approach to learning of new construction projects, as they are completed. Now, the construction industry adapting the concepts of tacit and explicit knowledge management to improve the situation. Top managers tend to believe that our employees have already implicit knowledge and experience for certain types of projects. Such knowledge is extremely important for organizations, as once the project is completed, the professionals tend to forget it and start something new. Thus, knowledge reuse is a key factor in the productive performance of the work. This paper describes the benefits of knowledge management for construction organizations and projects, and stresses the importance of tacit knowledge.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER #1: INTRODUCTION8

Background9

Sasole Construction Company's History10

Objectives of Study11

Problem Statement12

Significance of Study14

CHAPTER #2: LITERATURE REVIEW16

The Construction Industry23

Contribution in National Economy23

Nature of Construction Industry and its Culture23

The Case for KM as an Innovation in the Construction Industry26

Benefits for the Construction Industry27

KM29

Background29

What is KM?30

Evolution of KM and Emergence of the Knowledge Economy31

Human Information Processing -Factors influencing Knowledge Construction31

Perception and Recognition32

ICT as an Innovation in the Construction Industry33

Importance of ICT and Benefits to the Construction Process33

CHAPTER #3: METHODOLOGY35

Research approach35

Questionnaire design37

Data collection37

CHAPTER # 4: FINDINGS39

Data analysis39

Construct validity and reliability39

Regression analyses39

Results40

Key outcome and discussions40

Effects of knowledge components on general knowledge creation process40

Factors influencing four modes of knowledge creation process42

Individual competency42

Incentives44

Collaboration45

Vision of leadership46

CHAPTER # 5: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION48

How Does KM Support Innovation?53

How is KM sustained by the Learning Organisation Concept?54

Can it be illustrated that KM has a Role to Play in Enhancing Innovation and54

Learning in Construction Organisations?54

Development of the integrated  knowledge  management form for  construction  projects56

Conclusions65

REFERENCES67

APPENDIX77

Chapter #1: Introduction

 

In latest times, construction projects have turned into a more perplexing, dynamic and interactive scenario. Project managers are certainly needed to speed-up reflective decision-makings on time. Knowledge thus is documented to be one of the most significant assets assisting in the direction of managerial decision-making and enhancing the comparable benefit of associations bearing out such projects (Carrillo et al., 2004; Nonaka and Takeuchi, 2004). Knowledge has been recounted as data, which has been utilised and becomes a part of a person's knowledge-based know-how and behavioral patterns (DeTienne and Jensen, 2001). Individuals have distinct knowledge-based capability and know-how, therefore premier to distinct difficulty explaining advances and decision-making. When selecting a construction project manager, knowledge and know-how are important (Ogunlana et al., 2002). Project managers should thus be adept of understanding how to use, organize, and utilize such knowledge.

In the construction commerce, expert knowledge for example ability, creation, and other creativity are addressed as ...