Knowledge Management in Construction Organizations
Summary
Knowledge management in construction organisations encompasses the systematic creation, capture, sharing and application of information and expertise to enhance decision-making, innovation and competitive advantage. In an industry characterised by complex projects, fragmented teams and high turnover of personnel, effective knowledge management seeks to bridge gaps between explicit documents such as drawings and reports, and the tacit understanding held by experienced practitioners. Organisations increasingly deploy digital platforms, taxonomies and process frameworks to store lessons learned, disseminate best practice across geographically dispersed sites and enable rapid retrieval of critical know-how. By embedding knowledge capture into routine workflows—through post-project reviews, collaborative forums and mobile technologies—firms can reduce duplication of effort, mitigate risks associated with workforce attrition and foster a culture of continuous improvement. The global significance of such endeavours is underscored by the pressing need for sustainable infrastructure delivery, resilience in volatile markets and enhanced productivity in large-scale developments.
Research from Nature Portfolio
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Knowledge Management in Construction Organizations publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in knowledge management in construction organizations across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Knowledge taxonomy: A hierarchical classification system that organises information and expertise into categories and subcategories for systematic retrieval and management.
Tacit knowledge: Personal, context-specific know-how gained through experience, which is difficult to formalise or document.
Knowledge management process: A sequence of activities—acquisition, storage, dissemination, utilisation and responsiveness—through which organisations handle their knowledge assets.
Self-assessment framework: A structured tool that enables organisations to evaluate the maturity and effectiveness of their knowledge management practices and identify areas for improvement.
References
- Development of a knowledge taxonomy and a tool to support business development decisions in construction companies. Ain Shams Engineering Journal (2024).
- Assessment of Construction Competitiveness through Knowledge Management Process Implementation. Sustainability (2023).
- Knowledge management in the construction industry: current state of knowledge and future research. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management (2021).
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