Davis, Michael (2023) A phenomenology examining perceptions of knowledge management techniques in construction and practical possibilities to retain organizational knowledge. EdD thesis, Drake University (Iowa), USA.
Abstract
This qualitative study's purpose is to find the preferred knowledge management (KM) methods of construction workers in one central Iowa organization. Secondly, this study seeks to find the cultural aspects of the industry and organization that motivates and de-motivates workers to use or to avoid certain KM techniques to capture, access, and disseminate organizational knowledge. Using the Systems Model of Motivation and Performance (Stolovich & Keeps, 1992), a model based on Expectancy Theory and Human Performance Technology, the author demonstrates how individual factors (intrinsic) and environmental factors (extrinsic) affect a person or group's propensity to complete KM activities. Organized in Social Constructivist Epistemology under the lens of Deweyan Pragmatism, this phenomenological study found that workers in this trade prefer to access, capture and disseminate knowledge by word of mouth first. The worker's second preferred form of KM is to go to a mobile device when a peer or superior is not readily available. Intrinsic factors such as expectancy for success, knowledge of peer experience and a feeling of camaraderie contribute to this choice of method. Extrinsic factors such as job complexity, resources and positive feedback also motivate workers to capture, access and disseminate knowledge through word of mouth. This study examines other KM methods, and which intrinsic and environmental factors mitigate decisions to use alternative KM methods.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Gillespie, Catherine |
| Index terms: | construction worker, epistemology, phenomenology, human-performance, qualitative study, phenomenological study, environmental factor, complexity, word-of-mouth, pragmatism, knowledge management, motivation |
| Subjects: | research design and methodology, knowledge theory, professional development, methods and analysis, management, systems engineering, philosophical concept, human factors and perception, practitioner, environmental science, psychology |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Information Management, Business Strategy, Human Resources, Sustainability, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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