Tacit knowledge generation and utilisation in the construction industry

Abstract

The importance of knowledge as a key determinant of organisational competitiveness and better performance is increasingly appreciated by both academics and practitioners. However, the concept of tacit knowledge still lacks sufficient attention within the construction industry, despite the fact that proper understanding and management of this resource is of immense importance for the achievement of better organisational performance. As the initial step towards the management of tacit knowledge, this paper examines the factors affecting tacit knowledge generation and utilisation in the construction industry. The study integrates theories of experiential learning, cognitive science and knowledge creation, in order to articulate the process of tacit knowledge generation and utilisation. The exploratory phase of the case study identified several factors affecting tacit knowledge generation and utilisation in an organisational context in terms of Individual level: Intra-personal drivers; Group level: Inter-personal drivers; and Organisational level: Situational drivers