Internet and Web Technology for Knowledge Managment in Construction Organisations

The role and importance of knowledge as a key source of potential advantage for construction organisations have been addressed by several authors (Egbu, 2000; Kululanga et al., 1998; Quintas et al., 1997). During the design, construction and operation of any facility knowledge is gained and lessons are learned. Over time, organisations involved in the construction process have the opportunity to accumulate a plethora of knowledge, some of which is learned at great human or financial cost. With the increased use of Information Technology (IT) by construction organisations, much of the information is generated in digital form. Moreover, there is a growing demand for exchanging construction information over computer networks electronically. Individuals and organisations can take advantage of remarkable possibilities of accessing and sharing information and knowledge that Internet and Web technology provide. The Internet and Web technologies such as HTTP, HTML, XML, XHTML are changing the organisation's information management. In addition, an Intranet relying on Web technology and Internet protocols enables intradepartmental communication and internal information sharing. However, the potential of the Internet and Web technology for knowledge management is largely unrealised in construction organisations. This paper examines the ways in which Internet tools and Web technology support knowledge management in construction organisation. It illustrates how Internet and Web technology can enhance knowledge management activities taking the construction enterprise perspective. Knowledge management will benefit considerably from innovative Internet and Web applications, provided that such technology is integrated in the construction organisation to promote knowledge reuse and sharing. This paper presents a case study that illustrates how knowledge management is being implemented in a construction company.