ASSESSEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AMONG CONSTRUCTION ORGANISATIONS IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Construction projects are information-laden and construction organisations require a great deal of work to ensure that information is properly recorded and archived for use in future projects. In spite of the efforts put into managing knowledge, construction projects suffers from time and cost overruns, rework, poor quality work, revenue and financial loss and battered reputation of project’s stakeholders, as consequences of distorted and loss of information;. Thus, this study assessed Knowledge Management Practices (KMP) among three categories of construction organisations in Abuja, Nigeria. The study adopted a well-structured questionnaire administered randomly to construction professionals in construction organisations (SMEs and large firms). With response rate of 55.91% and average reliability coefficient of 0.856, the gathered data were analysed using; Percentages, Mean Item Score (MIS), and Kruskall-Walis H Test. The study found that; the KM processes in construction organisations are; Knowledge Acquisition, Knowledge Utilization, Knowledge Storage, Knowledge Creation, Knowledge Transfer and Knowledge Maintenance. The Critical Success Factors (CSFs) of KM adoption are: top management support and commitment, Good and effective communication, Application of IT, and Availability of Technology infrastructure. The major barriers to KM practices in the Nigerian construction organisations are; Lack of formal review and learning processes, Poor communication network, Lack of adequate technology, and Absence of firms structural approach. There is significance influence of KM practices on performance of construction organisations with P-value of 0.671. It was recommended that continuous support for construction organisations in area of provision of fund to increase their ICT capacities is vital for effective KM practices in improving performance