Challenges to transferring and sharing of tacit knowledge within a construction supply chain

Purpose – This paper investigates the potential challenges that hinder the effective transfer and sharing of Tacit Knowledge (Knowledge Communication) within a construction supply chain (CSC). Design/Methodology/Approach – This study identifies six challenges (through literature review) with fifteen positive correlations between them. Quantitative methodology is employed to validate those challenges and correlations between challenges. Firstly, data is collected through semi-structured e-survey questionnaire. Afterwards, a Frequency and Kruskal-Wallis H test is run for initial validation of identified challenges. A correlation analysis is used to highlight the taxonomic relations between those challenges. Finally, the study establishes the rank order of the first and following challenges. Findings – This study highlights that traditional ways of working with construction organisations are the predominant challenge that hinders effective transferring and sharing of Tacit Knowledge. The cause of challenges is the fragmented nature of CSC. Also, it brings out the correlation between those challenges. The study draws the conclusion and recommendation to implement Knowledge Communication (KC) within a CSC. Originality/Value – The study highlights the challenges that hinder KC in a construction process of a CSC. It establishes that the fragmented nature of the construction sector is not the first challenge that hinders implementation of transferring and sharing of Tacit Knowledge but somewhat traditional organisation structures and working processes. This is the first paper that investigates and tests the challenges in four dimensions and establishes the rank order of challenges with crucial distinction in a KC approach within a CSC. Conclusion – This study identifies the rank order of challenges. It also discusses the implementation of KC within a CSC. It reflects the current understanding of KC in the construction sector and pinpoints the contribution of this study in academia and practice. Keywords - Construction Supply Chains, Knowledge Management, Tacit Knowledge, Transferring and Sharing Tacit Knowledge, Knowledge Communication in Construction Processes, Knowledge Communicatio

Prioritizing cost management system considerations for Nigerian housing projects

Purpose- This study develops a success factor model to understand and facilitate improved cost management system (CMS) implementation in Low-cost housing (LcH) project delivery in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach- Literature findings highlight thirteen drivers��� affecting effective implementation within the CMS and employs series of brainstorming sessions and questionnaire survey to validate the drivers���. Factor analysis (FA) identifies possible contextual relationships among the validated drivers��� and groups them into three success factors. The results of the FA are refined employing interpretive structural modelling (ISM). The ISM identifies and models the influential drivers��� and aids the development of the success factor model. Findings- Effective team qualities, information and management actions and a stable operational environment are the three essential success factors for effective CMS implementation. Practical implications- The paper highlights effective team qualities as the most important CMS considerations for Nigerian LcH project delivery. This finding creates the needed awareness to guide project sponsors and project managers in the appropriate selection of Project Management Team (PMT) as well procurement system that facilitates their collaboration. Originality/value- This study is a novel research using FA and ISM to investigate the influence of success factors needful for effective implementation within the CMS. It further develops a hierarchy model that aids the PMT with the better understanding of the drivers��� and factors interrelationships for use on LcH projects within the Nigerian context

Critical factors for transferring and sharing tacit knowledge within lean and agile construction processes

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to investigate the critical success factors (CSFs) associated with the effectiveness of transfer and sharing of tacit knowledge in lean and agile construction processes. Design/methodology/approach The study identifies ten CSFs that initiate the transferring and sharing of tacit knowledge. The CSFs are validated through quantitative study. This study recruited project managers, executives, consultants and other managers that are directly involved in the management of a construction project. It recruits the respondents those have background and experience from disciplines such as lean construction, agile construction, construction supply chain (CSC) and knowledge management in lean, agile and CSC. The data collected through self-administrative questionnaire are categorised as ordinal data to analyse in SPSS with frequency and Kruskal–Wallis H test, Spearman’s correlation analysis and a rank-order analysis is done to establish the level of importance of those factors. Findings Initially, “Trust between construction organisations” is identified as the foremost CSF. Moreover, other CSFs such as motivation, leadership capabilities, business strategies and organisational capabilities follow trust. Originality/value This is the first study that investigates and establishes the CSFs that are essential to initiate transferring and sharing tacit knowledge in a lean and in an agile construction processes

Green business models transformation: evidence from the UK construction sector

Purpose – Sustainability has the potential to bring enormous benefits to our built environment. To release this potential, a change in business models is required. Green business models (GBMs) transformation is investigated by adopting five essential elements of green value creation and capture: Green Value proposition (GVP), Target Group (TG) Key Activities (KA), Key Resources (KR), and Financial Logic (FL). Design/methodology/approach – In this qualitative study, 19 semi-structured interviews are conducted. Interviewees were selected purposively. The emergent data is analysed with the aid of themes. Findings – It is observed that significant effort is being made towards enabling the transformation of certain elements pertinent to green value creation: KA and KR. This is particularly so when compared to other elements like GVP, TG, and FL. Implications –Findings from this study should encourage construction managers to align their extant BMs to green activities hence enabling new approaches to green value creation and capture. Furthermore, the study will aid in improving the environmental and economic positions of the value chain within the construction sector. Originality/value - This research is one of the few empirical academic works investigating GBMs in the construction sector

Graduate Engineering Economics For Engineering Managers

The new agenda for developing skills in engineering economics for engineering managers was discussed. The proposed range of topics suggested in this study is based on the following premise: engineering managers must have expertise in topics directly related to the management and direction of the enterprise. The engineering economics includes the study of financial accounting, cost accounting and capital management. The overall objective of the study is to solve real world problems and to give classroom attention by using financial calculators or spreadsheets

Using Cases To Teach Accounting Concepts For Engineering Managers

Basic financial accounting literacy is becoming essential in the professional life of engineers and engineering managers. Finding a way to include it in a meaningful way is a challenge in most curricula. Most texts in engineering economics offer little coverage. What is offered tends to focus on the mechanics of accounting transactions and financial ratio computations. Conceptual foundations are mostly omitted. As a richer alternative, accounting courses themselves usually consume a whole semester and spend a great deal of the course time and effort on fine points potentially of interest to budding accountants. A middle ground that emphasizes essential concepts and their logical underpinnings is needed. These concepts include accrual accounting, cash flow, value, capitalizing and expensing costs among others. A thorough list is developed in a prior ASEE paper, Graduate Engineering Economics for Engineering Managers 1 That paper provides a list of topics that should be included and makes suggestions for embedding them in a graduate course. The purpose of this paper is to develop specific learning objectives and describe a set of teaching materials and cases which have been successfully used to accomplish them. The presentation will emphasize the use of these cases and provide guidance in maximizing their learning effectiveness for an engineering management audience

Technical Note - A Note On The Cost Of Ownership, Capital Recovery And Depreciation

This paper develops an after-tax version of the classical capital recovery equation and demonstrates its value as a screening device and as an expository tool to convey conceptual understanding of the cost of ownership, capital recovery and depreciation

Engineers And The Cash Flow Puzzle

The need for the development of financial literacy among engineering students is discussed. Financial literacy and tax awareness are essential for engineers to evaluate and compare engineering projects. The students must be trained to make simple cash flow statements to interprete the financial and investment activities during the year. Understanding the logic and structure of the accounting process is necessary for engineers to communicate with managers in the company

Managing Erratic Demand: The Multi-Channel Manufacturing Approach

Contemporary cellular approaches to the development of manufacturing architectures based upon lean manufacturing concepts are often hindered or prevented by the lack of a smooth regular demand for products. This is frequently the case in apparel manufacturing where demand is erratic because of the high variety of end items and the fickleness of fashion markets. Multi-Channel Manufacturing (MCM) is an approach to cell development, which examines first the market channel requirements and configures cells based upon common customer service requirements. This paper describes the MCM approach and presents an application study in the apparel industry. Working through the case example, the paper describes the application of three MCM principles in seven specific application steps. The resulting revised system provides better customer service and reduced inventories albeit at some potential sacrifice in direct labor efficiency. Like other cellular designs, refinement of the system is a continual process. The paper illustrates trade-off\u27s and extensions of the system to improve efficiency and performance. It has immediate applicability to apparel manufacturing