Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

Understanding knowledge risks in Construction Organizations: Focus towards conceptual framework

Beatrice Audifasi, Deng Xiaopeng

Abstract


Managing knowledge by only considering it as a strategic asset is insufficient for understanding it and making well-informed decisions. And yet, knowledge risks and their management are still very little known. To fill the gap, this paper analyses the concept of knowledge as a risk or liability and creates a conceptual framework for understanding knowledge risks inside construction organizations. Balancing the depth and coverage of knowledge risks, theoretical results, and experts’ feedback have been integrated. The results categorized knowledge risks into two levels: level I (Knowledge Risks Events) and level II (Knowledge Risks output). According to experts’ results, some knowledge risks like “Withholding Knowledge,” “Non-risk tolerance,” “Unlearning/Intentional Forgetting,” and “Uncollaborative Effort” seems to exist in construction organizations unknowingly. Therefore, this research will create awareness of Knowledge Risks among construction managers and all personnel dealing with Knowledge management and Risk management. Also, act as a reference point in assisting researchers and industry practitioners in identifying knowledge risks.

KEYWORDS:

Knowledge Risks, Knowledge Risks events, Knowledge Risks output, Knowledge Risks in Construction Organization(s), Knowledge Loss, Knowledge leakage, and Knowledge Risks taxonomy.


Full Text:

PDF

References


Abu Aisheh YI (2021): Lessons Learned, Barriers, and Improvement Factors for Mega Building Construction Projects in Developing Countries: Review Study. Sustainability 13

Abu Bakar AH, Yusof MN, Tufail MA, Virgiyanti W (2016): Effect of knowledge management on growth performance in construction industry. Management Decision 54, 735-749

Acharya A, Mishra B (2017): Exploring the relationship between organizational structure and knowledge retention: a study of the Indian infrastructure consulting sector. Journal of Knowledge Management 21, 961-985

Agapiou A, Price * ADF, McCaffer R (1995): Planning future construction skill requirements: understanding labour resource issues. Construction Management and Economics 13, 149-161

Anumba CJ, Egbu CO, Carrillo PM (2008): Knowledge Management in Construction. Knowledge Management in Construction, 1-226

Arif M, Mohammed A-Z, Gupta AD (2015): Understanding knowledge sharing in the Jordanian construction industry. Construction Innovation 15, 333-354

Barlow J, Jashapara A (1998): Organisational learning and inter‐firm “partnering” in the UK construction industry. The Learning Organization 5, 86-98

Bayer F, Maier R (2006): Knowledge risks in inter-organizational knowledge transfer, Proceedings of I-Know, pp. 6-8

Becker KL (2018): Knowledge Management and Unlearning/Forgetting. In: Syed J, Murray PA, Hislop D , Mouzughi Y (Editors), The Palgrave Handbook of Knowledge Management. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp. 105-130

Bishop D, Felstead A, Fuller A, Jewson N, Unwin L, Kakavelakis K (2009): Constructing learning: adversarial and collaborative working in the British construction industry. Journal of Education and Work 22, 243-260

Borch C (2022): Machine learning, knowledge risk, and principal-agent problems in automated trading. Technology in Society 68, 101852

Borgia MS, Di Virgilio F, La Torre M, Khan MA (2022): Relationship between Work-Life Balance and Job Performance Moderated by Knowledge Risks: Are Bank Employees Ready? Sustainability 14, 5416

BrĂTianu C (2018): A Holistic Approach to Knowledge Risk. Management Dynamics in the Knowledge Economy 6, 593-607

Carrillo PM, Anumba CJ, Kamara JM (2000): Knowledge management strategy for construction: key IT and contextual issues. Proceedings of CIT 2000, 28-30

Chapman RJ (1998): The role of system dynamics in understanding the impact of changes to key project personnel on design production within construction projects. International Journal of Project Management 16, 235-247

Cheng M (2009): Research on the knowledge transfer in construction projects, 2009 16th International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, pp. 2035-2039

Chou J-S, Yang J-G (2012): Project Management Knowledge and Effects on Construction Project Outcomes: An Empirical Study. Project Management Journal 43, 47-67

Cigularov KP, Chen PY, Rosecrance J (2010): The effects of error management climate and safety communication on safety: A multi-level study. Accident Analysis & Prevention 42, 1498-1506

Coakes EW, Coakes JM, Rosenberg D (2008): Co-operative work practices and knowledge sharing issues: A comparison of viewpoints. International Journal of Information Management 28, 12-25

Coleman L, Casselman RM (2016): Optimizing decisions using knowledge risk strategy. Journal of Knowledge Management 20, 936-958

Connelly CE, Zweig D, Webster J, Trougakos JP (2012): Knowledge hiding in organizations. Journal of Organizational Behavior 33, 64-88

Dainty A, Grugulis I, Langford D (2007): Understanding construction employment: the need for a fresh research agenda. Personnel Review 36, 501-508

Dainty ARJ, Ison SG, Root DS (2004): Bridging the skills gap: a regionally driven strategy for resolving the construction labour market crisis. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management 11, 275-283

Dave B, Koskela L (2009): Collaborative knowledge management—A construction case study. Automation in Construction 18, 894-902

Demirkesen S, Ozorhon B (2017): Impact of integration management on construction project management performance. International Journal of Project Management 35, 1639-1654

Department USC 2021: US Chamber Commercial Construction Index - Q4 2021

du Plessis M (2005): Drivers of knowledge management in the corporate environment. International Journal of Information Management 25, 193-202

Durcikova A, Gray P (2009): How Knowledge Validation Processes Affect Knowledge Contribution. Journal of Management Information Systems 25, 81-108

Durst S, Aggestam L, Ferenhof HA (2015): Understanding knowledge leakage: a review of previous studies. VINE 45, 568-586

Durst S, Bruns G, Henschel T (2016): The Management of Knowledge Risks: What do We Really Know? International Journal of Knowledge and Systems Science (IJKSS) 7, 19-29

Durst S, Ferenhof HA (2016): Knowledge Risk Management in Turbulent Times, Competitive Strategies for Small and Medium Enterprises. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp. 195-209

Durst S, Zieba M (2017): Knowledge risks - towards a taxonomy. International Journal of Business Environment 9, 51-51

Durst S (2019): How far have we come with the study of knowledge risks? VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems 49, 21-34

Durst S, Hinteregger C, Zieba M (2019): The linkage between knowledge risk management and organizational performance. Journal of Business Research 105, 1-10

Durst S, Zieba M (2019): Mapping knowledge risks: towards a better understanding of knowledge management. Knowledge Management Research & Practice 17, 1-13

Durst S, Henschel T (2020): Knowledge Risk Management—State of Research. In: Durst S , Henschel T (Editors), Knowledge Risk Management: From Theory to Praxis. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp. 3-10

Durst S, Zieba M (2020): Knowledge risks inherent in business sustainability. Journal of Cleaner Production 251, 119670

Egbu CO (2004): Managing knowledge and intellectual capital for improved organizational innovations in the construction industry: an examination of critical success factors. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management 11, 301-315

Egbu CO, Robinson HS (2008): Construction as a Knowledge-Based Industry. Knowledge Management in Construction, 31-49

El-Diraby TA, Lima C, Feis B (2005): Domain Taxonomy for Construction Concepts: Toward a Formal Ontology for Construction Knowledge. Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering 19, 394-406

Esmi R, Ennals R (2009): Knowledge management in construction companies in the UK. AI & SOCIETY 24, 197-203

Fawad Sharif SM, Naiding Y, Ur Rehman A, Sahibzada UF, Kanwal F (2020a): From partners’ learning intent to knowledge leakage: the role of contract and trust. Knowledge Management Research & Practice, 1-12

Fawad Sharif SM, Naiding Y, Xu Y, Rehman Au (2020b): The effect of contract completeness on knowledge leakages in collaborative construction projects: a moderated mediation study. Journal of Knowledge Management 24, 2057-2078

Ferrada X, Núñez D, Neyem A, Serpell A, Sepúlveda M (2016): A Lessons-learned System for Construction Project Management: A Preliminary Application. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 226, 302-309

Fong PS-w, Chu L (2006): Exploratory Study of Knowledge Sharing in Contracting Companies: A Sociotechnical Perspective. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management 132, 928-939

Fong PSW, Choi SKY (2009): The processes of knowledge management in professional services firms in the construction industry: a critical assessment of both theory and practice. Journal of Knowledge Management 13, 110-126

Forcada N, Fuertes A, Gangolells M, Casals M, Macarulla M (2013): Knowledge management perceptions in construction and design companies. Automation in Construction 29, 83-91

Galati F, Bigliardi B, Petroni A, Petroni G, Ferraro G (2019): A framework for avoiding knowledge leakage: evidence from engineering to order firms. Knowledge Management Research & Practice 17, 340-352

Grosse H (2019): An insider’s point of view: autoethnography in the construction industry. Construction Management and Economics 37, 481-498

Hammoda B, Durst S (2022): A taxonomy of knowledge risks for healthcare organizations. VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems 52, 354-372

Haq SU, Khan KA, Hafeez H, Chughtai MA (2022): Trust and knowledge sharing in project teams in construction industry of Pakistan: moderating role of perceived behavioral control. Kybernetes ahead-of-print

Hari S, Egbu C, Kumar B (2005): A knowledge capture awareness tool: An empirical study on small and medium enterprises in the construction industry. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management 12, 533-567

Hartono B, Sulistyo SR, Kah, Chai H, Indarti N (2019): Knowledge Management Maturity and Performance in a Project Environment: Moderating Roles of Firm Size and Project Complexity. Journal of Management in Engineering 35, 04019023-04019023

Hizar Md Khuzaimah K, Hassan F (2012): Uncovering Tacit Knowledge in Construction Industry: Communities of Practice Approach. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 50, 343-349

Horgan I, Ahsan K, Miah S (2016): The Importance of Attributional Trust to Corporate Reputation. Journal of Relationship Marketing 15, 109-134

Hwang S (2014): Organizational Issues Affecting Tacit Knowledge Sharing in Construction Organizations, Construction Research Congress 2014, pp. 2074-2083

Issa RRA, Haddad J (2008): Perceptions of the impacts of organizational culture and information technology on knowledge sharing in construction. Construction Innovation 8, 182-201

Jafari M, Rezaeenour J, Mahdavi Mazdeh M, Hooshmandi A (2011): Development and evaluation of a knowledge risk management model for project‐based organizations. Management Decision 49, 309-329

Jiang X, Li M, Gao S, Bao Y, Jiang F (2013): Managing knowledge leakage in strategic alliances: The effects of trust and formal contracts. Industrial Marketing Management 42, 983-991

Kale S (2009): Fuzzy Intellectual Capital Index for Construction Firms. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management 135, 508-517

Karimi H, Taylor TRB, Dadi GB, Goodrum PM, Srinivasan C (2018): Impact of Skilled Labor Availability on Construction Project Cost Performance. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management 144, 04018057

KarimiAzari A, Mousavi N, Mousavi SF, Hosseini S (2011): Risk assessment model selection in construction industry. Expert Systems with Applications 38, 9105-9111

Kasimu M, Mohammed Isah L (2019): Assessment of Knowledge Sharing Practices in Nigerian Construction Firms. Path of Science 5, 4001-4011

Kivrak S, Arslan G, Dikmen I, Birgonul MT (2008): Capturing Knowledge in Construction Projects: Knowledge Platform for Contractors. Journal of Management in Engineering 24, 87-95

Kozlovska M, Klosova D, Strukova Z (2021): Impact of Industry 4.0 Platform on the Formation of Construction 4.0 Concept: A Literature Review. Sustainability 13, 2683-2683

Kululanga GK, McCaffer R (2001): Measuring knowledge management for construction organizations. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management 8, 346-354

Lambe P (2007): Taxonomies can take many forms, Organising Knowledge. Elsevier, pp. 13-48

Lin Y-C, Wang L-C, Tserng HP (2006): Enhancing knowledge exchange through web map-based knowledge management system in construction: Lessons learned in Taiwan. Automation in Construction 15, 693-705

Liu J, Zhao, Xianbo, Yan P (2016): Risk Paths in International Construction Projects: Case Study from Chinese Contractors. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management 142, 05016002-05016002

Loforte Ribeiro F (2009): Enhancing knowledge management in construction firms. Construction Innovation 9, 268-284

Love P, Smith J (2018): Unpacking the ambiguity of rework in construction: making sense of the literature. Civil Engineering and Environmental Systems 35, 180-203

Love PED, Huang JC, Edwards DJ, Irani Z (2004): Nurturing a learning organization in construction: a focus on strategic shift, organizational transformation, customer orientation and quality centered learning. Construction Innovation 4, 113-126

Ma Z, Qi L, Wang K (2008): Knowledge sharing in Chinese construction project teams and its affecting factors. Chinese Management Studies 2, 97-108

Martin de Holan P, Phillips N, Lawrence TB (2004): Managing Organizational Forgetting. MIT Sloan Management Review 45, 45-51

Massingham P (2010): Knowledge risk management: a framework. Journal of Knowledge Management 14, 464-485

Mitchell M (2019): Artificial Intelligence Hits the Barrier of Meaning. Information 10, 51-51

Mohd Nawi MN, Baluch N, Bahauddin AY (2014): Impact of fragmentation issue in construction industry: An overview. MATEC Web of Conferences 15

Ozorhon B, Dikmen I, Birgonul MT (2005): Organizational memory formation and its use in construction. Building Research & Information 33, 67-79

Paranagamage P, Carrillo P, Ruikar K, Fuller P (2012): Lessons learned practices in the UK construction sector: current practice and proposed improvements. Engineering Project Organization Journal 2, 216-230

Pathirage CP, Amaratunga DG, Haigh RP (2007): Tacit knowledge and organisational performance: construction industry perspective. Journal of Knowledge Management 11, 115-126

Perrott BE (2007): A strategic risk approach to knowledge management. Business Horizons 50, 523-533

Ping Tserng H, Lin Y-C (2004): Developing an activity-based knowledge management system for contractors. Automation in Construction 13, 781-802

Rezgui Y, Hopfe CJ, Vorakulpipat C (2010): Generations of knowledge management in the architecture, engineering and construction industry: An evolutionary perspective. Advanced Engineering Informatics 24, 219-228

Robinson HS, Carrillo PM, Anumba CJ, Al‐Ghassani AM (2005): Knowledge management practices in large construction organisations. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management 12, 431-445

Serpella AF, Ferrada X, Howard R, Rubio L (2014): Risk Management in Construction Projects: A Knowledge-based Approach. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 119, 653-662

Sheehan T, Poole D, Lyttle I, Egbu CO (2005): Strategies and Business Case for Knowledge Management, Knowledge Management in Construction, pp. 50-64

Shokri-Ghasabeh M, Chileshe N (2014): Knowledge management: Barriers to capturing lessons learned from Australian construction contractors perspective. Construction Innovation 14, 108-134

Staykova G, Underwood J (2017): Assessing collaborative performance on construction projects through knowledge exchange. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management 24, 968-987

Szulanski G (1996): Exploring internal stickiness: Impediments to the transfer of best practice within the firm. Strategic Management Journal 17, 27-43

Tan HC, Carrillo PM, Anumba CJ (2012): Case Study of Knowledge Management Implementation in a Medium-Sized Construction Sector Firm. Journal of Management in Engineering 28, 338-347

Tang LCM, Zhao Y, Austin S, Darlington M, Culley S (2010): Codification vs personalisation: A study of the information evaluation practice between aerospace and construction industries. International Journal of Information Management 30, 315-325

Temel S, Durst S (2020): Knowledge risk prevention strategies for handling new technological innovations in small businesses. VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems 51, 655-673

Thalmann S, Ilvonen I (2020): Why Should We Investigate Knowledge Risks Incidents? - Lessons from Four Cases

Tupenaite L, Kanapeckiene L, Naimaviciene J (2008): Knowledge management model for construction projects. Computer Modeling and New Technologies 12, 38-46

Uğural MN, Giritli H, Urbański M (2020): Determinants of the Turnover Intention of Construction Professionals: A Mediation Analysis. Sustainability 12, 954

Webster J, Brown G, Zweig D, Connelly CE, Brodt S, Sitkin S (2008): Beyond knowledge sharing: Withholding knowledge at work. In: Martocchio JJ (Editor), Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management. Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management. Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp. 1-37

Wei Y, Miraglia S (2017): Organizational culture and knowledge transfer in project-based organizations: Theoretical insights from a Chinese construction firm. International Journal of Project Management 35, 571-585

Wen Q, Qiang M (2016): Coordination and Knowledge Sharing in Construction Project-Based Organization: A Longitudinal Structural Equation Model Analysis. Automation in Construction 72, 309-320

Whysall Z, Owtram M, Brittain S (2019): The new talent management challenges of Industry 4.0. Journal of Management Development 38, 118-129

Wiewiora A, Trigunarsyah B, Murphy G, Coffey V (2013): Organizational culture and willingness to share knowledge: A competing values perspective in Australian context. International Journal of Project Management 31, 1163-1174

Wong PSP, Cheung SO, Yiu RLY, Hardie M (2012): The unlearning dimension of organizational learning in construction projects. International Journal of Project Management 30, 94-104

Xiao M, Cooke FL (2019): Why and when knowledge hiding in the workplace is harmful: a review of the literature and directions for future research in the Chinese context. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources 57, 470-502

Yap JBH, Shavarebi K, Skitmore M (2021): Capturing and reusing knowledge: analysing the what, how and why for construction planning and control. Production Planning & Control 32, 875-888

Yap JBH, Lim BL, Skitmore M (2022): Capitalising knowledge management (KM) for improving project delivery in construction. Ain Shams Engineering Journal 13, 101790

Yap JBH, Shavarebi K (2022): Enhancing project delivery performances in construction through experiential learning and personal constructs: competency development. International Journal of Construction Management 22, 436-452

Zhang P, Fai Ng F (2012): Attitude toward knowledge sharing in construction teams. Industrial Management & Data Systems 112, 1326-1347

Zhang P, Ng FF (2012): Analysis of knowledge sharing behaviour in construction teams in Hong Kong. Construction Management and Economics 30, 557-574

Zhang P, Ng FF (2013): Explaining Knowledge-Sharing Intention in Construction Teams in Hong Kong. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management 139, 280-293

Zieba M, Durst S (2018): Knowledge Risks in the Sharing Economy. In: Vătămănescu E-M , Pînzaru FM (Editors), Knowledge Management in the Sharing Economy: Cross-Sectoral Insights into the Future of Competitive Advantage. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp. 253-270

Zieba M (2020): Knowledge Risk Management in Companies Offering Knowledge-Intensive Business Services. In: Durst S , Henschel T (Editors), Knowledge Risk Management: From Theory to Praxis. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp. 13-31

Zieba M, Durst S, Gonsiorowska M, Zralov Z (2021): Knowledge risks in organizations – insights from companies, Proceedings of the European Conference on Knowledge Management, ECKM. Academic Conferences and Publishing International Limited, pp. 864-873


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.