BIM-Based Knowledge Management in Construction Projects

Introduction

Knowledge Management

Knowledge is seen as one of the most competitive resources in any organizations (Ofek & Sarvary, 2001). A lot of researchers are trying to define knowledge by distinguishing among data, information and knowledge (Alavi & Leidner, 2001). A common view with minor variants is that data is raw numbers and symbols while information is the processed data (Dretske, 1983). Quigley and Debons (1999) defined that information can be regarded as resources used to answer “when”, “where”, “who”, and “what” questions while knowledge is the application of information to answer “how” and “why” questions. As a result, data, information and knowledge can be placed at three different levels, ranging from data at the bottom to knowledge at the top (Rowley, 2007). According to Nonaka, Umemoto and Senoo (1996), on the other hand, information is an essential material for eliciting and formatting knowledge. The creation of knowledge is based on information.

Wiig (1997) holds that KM is a process to try to understand and manage systematic, explicit, and deliberate knowledge creation, renewal, and application. The objectives of KM are: (1) to make the organization act intelligently to secure its competitiveness and overall success, and (2) to realize the best value of its knowledge assets. The KM process can be seen as a series of structured activities for managing knowledge effectively and efficiently, which generally includes knowledge creation, sharing/communication, storage, and application (Alavi & Leidner, 2001). In this study, knowledge creation is explained based on the SECI (socialization, externalization, combination, internalization) model proposed by Nonaka and Takeuchi (1995). This is because that this model has been widely accepted in and has been used in many studies (Hussi, 2004; Jakubik, 2007; Ngulube, 2003; Zheng, Yang & McLean, 2010). Based on this model, knowledge can be created as various new types. Socialization (S) aims to transfer tacit knowledge into new tacit knowledge through social interactions among members. Externalization (E) converts tacit knowledge into explicit types. Combination (C) is a process that upgrades explicit knowledge into more complex and systematic sets of explicit knowledge by combining explicit knowledge with some key pieces of other knowledge. Internalization (I) involves the process of changing explicit knowledge into tacit knowledge. Additionally, knowledge sharing is defined as the exchange of knowledge between and among individuals/teams/organizational units/organizations. There are two roles in this process. One role involves the communication of knowledge and the other has to do with assimilation (Schwartz, 2006). Knowledge storage/retrieval can be seen as organizational memory, constitutes a crucial aspect of KM of an organization. Organizational memory refers to knowledge residing in various component forms, such as paper-based documentation, information stored in electronic databases, codified human knowledge stored in expert systems, documented organizational procedures and processes and tacit knowledge acquired by individuals and networks of individuals (Tan, Teo, Tan & Wei, 1998). The process of knowledge application is related to how the existing knowledge can be utilized to make decisions and perform tasks based on the direction and routines (Becerra-Fernandez & Sabherwal, 2014).

Knowledge Management in Construction