Graham, B and Thomas, K (2007) The development of an integrated knowledge management model for construction. In: Boyd, D (ed.) Proceedings of 23rd Annual ARCOM Conference, 3-5 September 2007, Belfast, UK.
Abstract
Knowledge management (KM) is now recognised for its potential to bring considerable gains to construction organisations, their projects and individual workers through social and technological interventions. There is however, a paucity of empirical research in this area, and furthermore a lack of integrated KM models in the literature. Continuing research into KM in the Irish construction industry is presented, where a range of methods have been utilised to address issues relating to KM within the leading Irish construction companies. Current approaches to managing knowledge within these companies and an assessment of the potential for a more formal approach to KM are considered. A number of these companies are engaged in Engineers Ireland’s (EI) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accreditation scheme and are finding it difficult to understand the concept of KM, which is a criterion for accreditation. It is now proposed to engage further with these companies, and through a grounded theory approach, develop an integrated theoretical model for KM which is both pragmatically useful and credible, bridging the gap between theory and practice. Based on the developed model, a key objective of the research will be to develop guidance and training which will be endorsed by EI and assist Irish construction firms in understanding KM, achieving CPD accreditation and improving performance. It is also anticipated that the research will foster closer links between industry, academia and professional bodies in addressing the poor levels of collaborative research and innovation within the Irish construction industry.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | continuing professional development; grounded theory; Irish construction; knowledge management |
| Index terms: | academia, continuing professional development, construction industry, knowledge management, Ireland, construction organization, grounded theory, engineer, construction company, construction firm |
| Subjects: | theoretical framing, professional development, Geography, educational institutions, industry analysis, organization, profession |
| Topics: | Education, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Information Management, Business Strategy, Roles and Professions |
| 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