Zhou, S; Qin, L; Zhang, J and Cao, X (2023) Research on the influencing factors of knowledge transfer among construction workers based on social cognitive theory. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 30(4), pp. 1768-1786. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: This paper aims to employ social cognitive theory (SCT) as a theoretical framework to investigate the influencing factors affecting the knowledge transfer effectiveness of construction workers in China. The mediating role of their knowledge transfer willingness is also assessed. Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire on knowledge transfer among Chinese construction workers is designed and subsequently analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM), with a total sample of 288 construction workers. Findings: The SEM results show that the knowledge self-efficiency, blood and geographic relationships, and trust relationship promote knowledge transfer willingness and positively influence the knowledge transfer effectiveness of construction workers. However, the effect of organizational culture on knowledge transfer willingness and effectiveness is nonsignificant. Practical implications: The results are conducive to managers and governments formulating strategies to optimize the learning mechanism of construction workers and facilitate their obtaining of resources from the project, thus easing skill shortages and promoting the transformation of construction workers into industrial workers. Originality/value: This paper innovatively proposes blood and geographic relationships as research variables, expanding their scope. Furthermore, SCT is applied to enable future research to better understand individual knowledge transfer behavior from both personal and environmental perspectives.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction workers; knowledge transfer; knowledge transfer willingness; social cognitive theory |
| Index terms: | social cognitive theory, skill shortage, manager, structural equation modelling, strategy, knowledge transfer, questionnaire, methodology, organizational culture, China, efficiency, influencing factor, transformation, effectiveness, construction worker |
| Subjects: | sociology, statistical analysis, behavioral psychology, performance management, research methods, management, Geography, business, risk assessment, research dissemination and communication, data collection methods, practitioner |
| Topics: | Risk Management, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Quality Management, Human Resources, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here