Exploiting intranet technology in facilitating knowledge management among quantity surveying's consulting firms

Abstract

Successful knowledge transfer is an important process which requires continuous improvement in today's knowledgeintensive economy. However, improving knowledge transfer processes represents a challenge for most of the small and medium size consulting firms. In recent years, the terminology ‘knowledge management’ initiative has been introduced. The concept of knowledge management (KM) is seen as the solution through the inculcation of knowledge sharing via various tools and techniques in managing the knowledge within parties in construction. Through intranet as one of the KM tools, the organisations are able to create, acquire and transfer knowledge. The aim of this research paper was to investigate how quantity surveying (QS) consulting firms is exploiting intranet technology in facilitating knowledge management in order to deliver quantity surveying services efficiently. A qualitative approach through semi-structured interviews was adopted as the method used to establish current knowledge management practices and the tools used for sharing knowledge and learning. The study finds that the use of intranet has not been used to its fullest potential due to the barriers and challenges in using intranet as KM tools. Thus has created some problems with regard to deliver quantity surveying services efficiently. A discussion is also included on the future research direction for the development of a conceptual framework to support the integration of quantity's surveyor services with relevant knowledge management initiative.