Schröpfer, V (2013) Social network analysis of knowledge transfer in sustainable office building projects in the UK and Germany. PhD thesis, Oxford Brookes University, UK.
Abstract
Sustainability is fundamentally transforming construction industries worldwide, resulting in an increased complexity of construction projects with a more divergent set of actors involved. A seamless transfer of knowledge between these actors is required. The gap between the performance of green buildings as designed and as built could be interpreted as an indication that this transfer is not immaculate. Nowadays almost every actor involved in the construction process claims to strive for sustainability. However, the way they perceive and translate it into practice varies widely between different project participants. Therefore a better understanding of how knowledge on sustainable construction is transferred and adopted is needed. A subsequent enhancement of this process could support a certain standard of sustainable building quality. Previous research indicated that social networks influence knowledge transfer (KT), as knowledge is personal and KT takes place through interaction of individuals. Moreover, social network analysis (SNA) provides the means to map the knowledge flow in a project environment and thus enables an understanding of how to enhance it. As a result SNA was used to compare KT practices in construction teams delivering office buildings to sustainable building standards in Germany and the UK. A literature review led to the establishment of a conceptual framework that characterizes the KT process. This was used to inform the research design, data collection and analysis. The research was carried out using a multiple case study approach. The data collection tools were mainly questionnaires with a combination of quantitative, qualitative and social network data. The data was analysed using a combination of descriptive statistics, cross tabulations, content analysis and SNA. The findings were used to revise the conceptual framework. The findings showed a lack of awareness and knowledge of sustainable construction. Moreover, analysis of the data concluded that KT on sustainable construction is influenced by so-called general enhancers/ inhibitors, such as age group and job level, and social network characteristics. Furthermore the results suggest benefits could be derived from employing a sustainability manager as a key contact and to enhance KT on sustainable construction. This research contributes to literature on KT in sustainable construction project teams from a social network perspective. It is the first of its kind comparing KT in construction teams delivering sustainable office buildings in Germany and the UK. The framework is the most important output of this research in terms of both contribution to knowledge and practice and can be used to support the examination of KT in sustainable construction projects. Furthermore this study facilitates the understanding of knowledge contents and types of sustainable construction knowledge.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | case study; complexity; construction team; content analysis; Germany; knowledge flow; project team; social network analysis; sustainability; UK |
| Index terms: | sustainable office building, interaction, construction industry, statistics, project team, case study, sustainable construction project, research design, construction team, office building, sustainable building, construction process, construction project, knowledge transfer, Germany, green building, questionnaire, conceptual framework, complexity, knowledge flow, manager, sustainable construction, social network analysis, content analysis, literature review, social network |
| Subjects: | building construction, behavioral psychology, research methods, theoretical framing, sustainable construction, production management, Geography, knowledge management, research dissemination and communication, construction type, practitioner, sociology, systems engineering, industry analysis, design practice, project delivery, data analysis and analytics, mathematical modelling, research design and methodology, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Design Practice, Site Management, Information Management, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Construction Technology, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Geographical Context, Sustainability |
| 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