Organisational Learning in the UK Construction Industry: A Knowledge Management Approach

This paper describes the work of an EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) and DETR (Department for the Environment and the Regions) funded research project – B-Hive (Building a High Value Construction Environment). The research sought to further develop partnering initiatives in the construction industry through learning and reflection. Review processes and appropriate information systems were created to share and store knowledge and assist with the task of more closely integrating the activities of companies which collaborate on construction projects. It is envisaged that these new processes will help in the creation of a more open, co-operative and less confrontational culture that will enable project participants to learn from both collective experience and the knowledge of individuals. Reflection upon this work has enabled us to propose our own knowledge categories of soft knowledge and interpretative knowledge which may be useful for the formulation of knowledge management strategies.