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1 – 8 of 8Zhikun Ding, Shuanglong Jiang, Fungfai Ng and Menglian Zhu
The quantity of construction technology innovations in patent database grows at a high speed. More challenging technical problems require knowledge workers to make full use of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The quantity of construction technology innovations in patent database grows at a high speed. More challenging technical problems require knowledge workers to make full use of the huge existing technology innovation knowledge base to propose new innovative solutions. Hence, it is critical to deliver the right knowledge to the right people at the right time. To improve innovation efficiency and effectiveness, this research explores the development of a new patent knowledge management system to satisfy the increasing demand of construction innovations.
Design/methodology/approach
TRIZ-based patent knowledge management system (TPKMS) development involves the integration of construction patent knowledge management, theory of inventive problem-solving (TRIZ) theory, database techniques and computer programing technology. The contradiction matrix in TRIZ theory serves as the patent knowledge extraction framework, while SQL Server 2000 database management system is employed to manage the extracted patent knowledge, TRIZ and user account information. Visual C++ 6.0 is adopted as the development tool.
Findings
The developed system to manage construction patent knowledge integrates TRIZ with the database design, enabling the system users to be more problem-focused, systematic and efficient. The system provides a heuristic environment to help improve the innovation effectiveness by motivating knowledge workers’ innovative thinking. Further development of the system is proposed in the context of the age of big data.
Originality/value
A new TRIZ-based patent knowledge management system for construction technology innovation was developed.
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Zhikun Ding, Fungfai Ng and Jiayuan Wang
An important assumption in testing theoretical models is measurement invariance. However, little research in construction project management investigates the issue of measurement…
Abstract
Purpose
An important assumption in testing theoretical models is measurement invariance. However, little research in construction project management investigates the issue of measurement invariance. To bridge the gap, the current paper aims at: first, testing trust measurement invariance in project teams across gender; second, delineating various measurement invariance tests and demonstrating them with Amos; and last but not least, increasing researchers' awareness about measurement invariance issue in the construction project management field.
Design/methodology/approach
The measurement invariance of trust across gender is investigated using survey data collected from architects in project design teams of A-level architectural design institutes in China. Multisample confirmatory factor analysis is conducted with Amos to test configural invariance, metric invariance, scalar invariance, factor covariance and variance invariance, error variance invariance, latent mean invariance of the Chinese version of McAllister's two-dimension trust scale.
Findings
All the test results of the above invariances are supportive. Goodness-of-fit indexes such as CFI deserve more empirical studies to verify.
Research limitations/implications
The results imply that the trust structure of male and female architects is equivalent. In other words, male and female architect data of trust research in construction project management could be aggregated.
Practical implications
It is recommended that test of measurement invariance should be conducted while new measurement scales are under construction.
Originality/value
Since all the invariance tests are rarely conducted within a single study, the current research is the first paper to investigate the measurement invariance issue in the construction industry.
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The purpose of this paper is to examine the validity of the theory of reasoned action as a general framework to predict knowledge‐sharing behavior and offer practical guidance to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the validity of the theory of reasoned action as a general framework to predict knowledge‐sharing behavior and offer practical guidance to promote knowledge sharing in the Chinese construction sector.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on survey data, structural equation modeling was applied to test the theory of reasoned action in the architectural design project team context in China.
Findings
The results suggest that attitude toward knowledge sharing is more important than subjective norms in determining architects' willingness to share knowledge. But the two factors are positively correlated.
Research limitations/implications
Although theory of reasoned action provides us with a powerful prediction model, it cannot explain the underlying mental processes. More attention should be paid to the development of the explanatory model in future researches.
Originality/value
The results presented in this paper usefully imply that team managers should focus more on training architects to have a positive attitude toward knowledge sharing, so as to increase knowledge‐sharing behaviors. Moreover, the architectural design organizations should build up a knowledge‐sharing culture so that architects' attitudes toward knowledge sharing become more positive.
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The complexity of knowledge in architectural design results in its unique management characteristics not being fully recognized and appreciated. Little research has been done in…
Abstract
Purpose
The complexity of knowledge in architectural design results in its unique management characteristics not being fully recognized and appreciated. Little research has been done in this area. This paper aims to bridge this knowledge gap.
Design/methodology/approach
A multiple‐case study methodology is applied to identify the knowledge sharing pattern in architectural design institutes in the People's Republic of China. Content analysis is employed to analyse the qualitative data collected by in‐depth interview, site observation and document review.
Findings
The results show that individual architects share their own knowledge by means of reflection‐in‐action, conversation and problem solving. Either formal or informal mentoring, legitimate peripheral participation, communities of practice and workshops are the major mechanisms for architectural design institutes to share organizational knowledge but the knowledge sharing pattern are quite different for different kinds of architectural design institutes.
Research limitations/implications
The major limitation of this research is associated with sample selection. Although the cases being selected are fairly representative of the architectural design institutes in People's Republic of China, not all types of architectural design institutes are included due to the availability of data.
Practical implications
The identified knowledge sharing patterns can help managers of architectural design institutes as well as individual architects to better understand how knowledge is shared in their field and how to improve their overall performance.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the existing body of research on how knowledge is shared in the construction industry. In particular, a knowledge sharing pattern is identified to offer insights in architectural design institutes in China. The paper addresses a number of research questions which are not fully explored in current literature.
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Two psychological models, the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) are the most common theories used to understand knowledge sharing…
Abstract
Purpose
Two psychological models, the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) are the most common theories used to understand knowledge sharing behaviour. However, the empirical results are inconclusive on whether TRA and TPB can provide reasonable prediction of knowledge sharing attitude, intention and behaviour. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to conduct a review of these models in knowledge sharing.
Design/methodology/approach
This study reviews 63 papers to provide a comprehensive picture of these models in knowledge sharing.
Findings
Two main trends of modification were shown in the studies examining these models. Research gaps were identified as a guideline for future researchers to investigate potential moderators and examine these models from the participants’ perspective.
Originality/value
The model serves as a roadmap for future researchers and managers considering their strategy to enhance knowledge sharing.
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Yasha Afshar Jalili and Samaneh Ghaleh
The purpose of this paper is to summarize the application of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in predicting knowledge sharing behavior (KSB) based on a systematic literature…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to summarize the application of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in predicting knowledge sharing behavior (KSB) based on a systematic literature review.
Design/methodology/approach
A meta-analysis was applied as a research methodology, and 47 studies were included in this study with a total population of 15,528 people (mean = 353). The authors summarized previous studies which used the TPB for predicting (KSB).
Findings
Findings reveal that KSB is determined jointly by knowledge-sharing intention (KSI) and perceived behavioral control (PBC). Intention itself is a function of attitude toward knowledge sharing, subjective norm surrounding knowledge sharing and PBC to perform KSB.
Practical implications
The primary implication of this meta-analysis is to deeply interpret the essence of KSB r and its determinants, in which managers can foster the conduction of this valuable behavior in their organizations. However, as a limitation, a remarkable threat to validity in the existing literature is a potential “cooperation bias” in which participants likely overestimate their knowledge sharing intention and knowledge sharing behavior. In future studies, this limitation can be addressed by measuring actual KSB.
Originality/value
This study is the first meta-analysis conducted to investigate the prediction power of the TPB for determining KSB. While there are several contradictions reported in the researches which used the TPB in the knowledge-sharing context, this research has summarized and reported the results.
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