Incorporating knowledge management in civil engineering construction firms in Ghana

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Date
NOVEMBER, 2015
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Abstract
Knowledge management promotes innovation, business performance and client satisfaction. However, knowledge if not well managed renders the organisation less competitive within the global job market. This is a quantitative study that was conducted in some civil engineering construction firms in the Kumasi metropolis and some selected municipalities in the Ashanti region with an aim of exploring the significance of knowledge management practices in civil engineering construction firms in Ghana. The primary research was conducted using survey questionnaires. The structured questionnaires were used to obtain data to ascertain the challenges and measures to improve knowledge management practices. A total number of seventy questionnaires were administered and sixty were retrieved representing a response rate of 85.71%. Relative Importance Index rankings were the main tool used for analysis. The findings of the research revealed the main challenges associated with the adoption of knowledge management as lack of available KM systems, lack of leadership support, lack of awareness of KM practices, lack of understanding knowledge management and employee resistance. However, the main strategic measures to improve knowledge management; innovation, awareness creation, use of knowledge storage, use knowledge management models and adequate financial resources were also ascertained. Further studies have been recommended to improve knowledge management practices in organisations such as the impact of knowledge management practices on the productivity of civil engineering construction firms.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Building Technology of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Construction Management.
Keywords
Challenges, Construction, Ghana, Knowledge, Knowledge Management
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