Managing project knowledge in delivering sustainable retrofitted buildings: A decision support framework

This paper highlights the significance of knowledge management in construction activities, focusing particularly in the case of sustainable retrofitted building projects. It has been acknowledged that the industry has a poor attitude to project learning and the capture of project knowledge. Knowledge has been recognised as a most valuable asset in any industry because of its association with innovation, timely project delivery and competitive advantage. In a knowledge-based industry like construction, the work of the key stakeholders is ultimately about making decisions. However, the contribution of knowledge management to the area of decision-making has been largely ignored in the industry. Decision-making is the processing of knowledge that leads to action. Furthermore, most decisions in the delivery of sustainable retrofitted building projects are complex and interdisciplinary. Thus, there is a need for project knowledge to be managed and presented as a framework to enable the key stakeholders make an appropriate and informed decision. This paper presents a new knowledge management paradigm for assisting key stakeholders that are involved in delivering sustainable retrofitted building projects in making informed decisions. The proposed framework was developed after intensive reviews of the related literature.