engleski

Exploring Project Specific Knowledge - Revaluation and Implications for Engineering Organization

Engineering projects are mass generators of information and knowledge such as facts, truths, beliefs, perspectives, concepts, judgments, expectations, methodologies and know-how. Summarizing all the above, projects are dealing with knowledge relevant for unobstructed work continuance and reaching project objectives. While most project information and knowledge is simple in nature and easy to understand, its volume imposes a challenge for everyone who tries to catch up with the project dynamics for effective downstream operation. This phenomenon becomes visible and thus important in situations of frequent change of personnel or reorganization activities due to often long duration of organizational engagement on the project. In this paper, authors use knowledge-based-view to investigate operational underachievement in construction projects. Literature review shows that some aspects of the problems shares similarity with the concept of Project-specific-knowledge (PSK). This paper aims to unveil PSK presence in project construction phase, develop new understanding of this type of knowledge and point some critical issues that can affect project governance policy. Empirical findings are based on dual research strategy i.e. exploratory research and questionnaire among practitioners. Exploratory research is performed during construction/erection phase of a large infrastructure project in which authors describe the phenomenon in its occurrence. Second part of the research is a questionnaire involving dozen projects. This part of the research, investigates experiences of PSK absence, occurring difficulties, action solutions which at the end confirms PSK industry wide importance. Based on the research results, PSK concept is positioned within knowledge management literature enriched with elaboration of its occurrence and importance. At the end, authors enclose selection of guidelines for future research.

project knowledge; project organization; operational performance; built environment

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