Knowledge Management in Project- Based Organizations A Case Study within the Swedish Construction Industry

Abstract

With its project-based organization, the Swedish construction industry struggles to manage the knowledge that is needed for their employees to fulfil their job tasks. Often locally separated, working on a construction site means being excluded from knowledge transfer and knowledge sharing with other employees. Especially for newly graduated employees it can be hard to find the information the need and a lack of social interaction with colleagues hinders an efficient start at the job. During this study a pre-study, an exploratory workshop as well as ten interviews were conducted to support knowledge management in a construction company. Although the researchers mainly investigated the case study of NCC Building Väst, a general suggestion to knowledge management within the Swedish construction industry can be drawn. As one solution doesn’t fit everyone, different ways of knowledge management need to be provided by the organization. Firstly, knowledge can be stored and shared in a structured database, such as an intranet or organized folders. Responsibilities regarding certain roles within the organization and ways to contact those other colleagues must be clear. Finally, socialization plays a crucial role as human capital is a major factor of knowledge management. Communities of Practice and formal initiatives can be one solution to knowledge management within project-based organizations.