Kale, S and Karaman, E A (2011) Evaluating the knowledge management practices of construction firms by using importance-comparative performance analysis maps. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 137(12), pp. 1142-1152. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
The emergence of the effective management of knowledge resources as a key factor in gaining and sustaining competitive advantage presents new challenges to construction firms. Evaluating knowledge management practices is considered one of the most important challenges facing firms in today's business environment. This paper proposes a model for evaluating the knowledge management practices of construction firms. The proposed model incorporates knowledge management concepts and multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural networks to construct an importance-comparative performance analysis (ICPA) map, a simple visual tool that can provide powerful diagnostic information to executives of construction firms. The model evaluates a firm's knowledge management practices, identifies its competitive advantages and disadvantages in each knowledge management practice, and sets priorities for managerial actions to improve knowledge management practices. A real-world case study was conducted by administering a survey to 105 construction firms operating in Turkey and is presented to illustrate the implementation and utility of the proposed model. The case study findings provided preliminary support for the validity of the proposed model.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | artificial neural networks; construction firm; knowledge management; organizations; performance |
| Index terms: | emergence, knowledge management, neural network, artificial neural network, survey, construction firm, maps, implementation, performance analysis, executive, multilayer, validity, competitive advantage, Turkey, case study |
| Subjects: | market analysis, systems engineering, spatial and geospatial analysis, specialized materials and systems, Geography, professional development, modelling and simulation, data analysis and analytics, contractual arrangements, artificial intelligence, evaluation and assessment methods, data collection methods, organization, practitioner |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Information Management, Engineering Principles, Construction Materials, Roles and Professions, Procurement |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
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