Chen, L and Fong, P S W (2013) Visualizing evolution of knowledge management capability in construction firms. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 139(7), pp. 839-851. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
A firm, as a dynamic, evolving, and quasi-autonomous system of knowledge production and application, develops knowledge management capability (KMC) through strategic learning to sustain competitive advantages in a dynamic environment. Knowledge governance mechanisms and knowledge processes connect and interact with each other, thereby forming learning mechanisms that execute double-loop learning. This in turn drives the genesis and evolution of KMC to modify operating routines that contribute to the desired performance. This paper reports a study that was performed within a context of construction contractors, a type of project-based firm, which operates within the dynamic Hong Kong construction market. The writers used a multiple-case design to incorporate evidence from the literature and interviews, with the help of system dynamics modeling, to visualize the evolution of KMC. The writers' paper demonstrates the feasibility of visualizing how a firm's KMC correlates with its operating environment over time. The findings imply that knowledge management (KM) applications can be better planned and controlled through evaluation of KM performance over time from a capability perspective.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | dynamic capabilities; knowledge management; learning mechanisms; performance evaluation; system dynamics modeling |
| Index terms: | competitive advantage, Hong Kong, governance, project-based firm, modelling, construction market, construction firm, interview, routine, construction contractor, knowledge management, performance evaluation, system dynamics, evolution, dynamic capability, evidence |
| Subjects: | practitioner, computing systems, data collection methods, evaluation and assessment methods, organization, business, environmental science, analytical methods, Geography, professional development, performance measurement, management, market analysis, sociology |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Information Management, Roles and Professions, Governance, Sustainability, Digital Applications, Quality Management, Organizational Design |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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