Enablers of knowledge management: practical research-based in the construction industry

Abstract

Purpose To effectively implement knowledge management, one prerequisite is to understand and implement the knowledge management enablers in the sense of optimal institutional efficiency. This paper aims to analyze and measure the significant enablers in overseeing knowledge management in the construction sector. Design/methodology/approach The mixed-method technique was used to achieve the objective of this study and involved the application of detailed questions to project engineers and project managers within leading construction engineering companies, provided by the Institution of Engineering and Technology Ghana. In total, 150 questionnaires were collected and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences v. 26. Findings The study confirms that the knowledge management enablers such as employees knowledge, motivations, effective decisions and strategic planning are some of the important ways in which construction professionals can achieve different strategic goals in many processes and concluded that the progress of the next generation knowledge management strategy will be based on content sharing, decision-making and by promoting the free flow of ideas. Originality/value The study offers perspectives into knowledge management enablers and recommends key performance factors, championed by Ghanaian construction contractors for institutional knowledge capture.