Abstract

Knowledge management is a tool that can be used by construction companies at management level to reduce time consumption on data process and transmittal in various stages of existing and future projects. This tool helps in communication between different layers of the companies and in transferring data and information from the completed projects in the past. Since the construction industry is one of the biggest industries in the world, it has lots of different applications and practices with diverse projects. Based on a comprehensive literature review of empirical research and detailed case studies, it is found that, there have been general, as well as project specific elements existing to prevent firms from applying knowledge acquired from their past performance. Lack of coordination and communication slows down the transfer of data from past to present and future projects. Complexity of projects constitutes the main obstacle blocking firms from utilizing knowledge in new settings. Further, the study proposes several strategies for effective utilization of knowledge management in existing and future projects to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of knowledge management use in construction projects resulting in reduction of time and cost and an increase in quality.

Keywords: Knowledge management; Construction industry; Communication; Data transfer; Recommendations to use of knowledge management