Arif, M; Khalfan, M; Barnard, J H and Heller, N A (2012) Assessing knowledge retention in construction organisations: Cases from the UAE. Construction Economics and Building, 12(2), pp. 55-71. ISSN 2204-9029
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to present different issues facing the problem of knowledge retention by construction sector companies in the UAE. Existing framework in the area of knowledge retention has been used to assess three large construction consultancies in the UAE. The case study methodology used in this paper highlights some key issues in the area of knowledge retention in the UAE. Based on the analysis of the knowledge retention system the major drivers for its successful implementation are prevalence of a culture of sharing knowledge, reward and recognition for sharing knowledge, a technology platform that can accommodate multi formats of files, awareness of knowledge retention system and its benefits among its employees, and top management support. The paper presents three case studies and draws conclusions about the UAE construction sector. Although the three companies are large companies, there are several Small and Medium sized Enterprise (SME) operating in the construction sector in the UAE. Future researchers need to look at these SMEs. Through the three case studies, several issues related to the implementation of robust knowledge retention practices have been identified and highlighted for the UAE construction sector.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | knowledge leakage; knowledge management; knowledge retention; knowledge retrieval; knowledge sharing; organisational culture |
| Index terms: | platform, retention, case study, construction organization, methodology, top management, organizational culture, knowledge management, knowledge sharing, consultancy, small and medium sized enterprise, construction sector, implementation |
| Subjects: | sociology, knowledge management, contractual arrangements, industry analysis, data collection methods, management, research methods, organization, professional development, digital design |
| Topics: | Organizational Design, Digital Applications, Human Resources, Procurement, Business Strategy, Information Management, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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