Knowledge Exchanges in Complex Project Networks: Influence Model
Publication: Construction Research Congress 2022
ABSTRACT
Characterized by fragmented nature and different conditions for every project, the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry seeks remedies to achieve enhanced project outcomes including sustainability. Highly integrated project teams can overcome the obstacles by exchanging knowledge, goal alignment, and risk and reward sharing. Understanding the interaction patterns in project team networks can help implement desired practices to optimize sustainability outcomes. According to the influence theory, individuals are influenced by their interactions. They change their beliefs and practices in response to the people they connect with. Basic influence processes yield complex interactions and behavior patterns, and insights to these processes can help understand knowledge transfers in project team networks. The goal of this study is to examine the formation of knowledge transfer networks for sustainability in project teams via the lens of influence model and provide insights to complex organizational behaviors. To achieve study goal, we longitudinally collected e-mail exchange and archival data from an AEC project and performed Social Network Analysis (SNA) focusing on Energy and Atmosphere related interactions. The results showed that the exposure to the nodes with high-engagement levels and diverse expertise areas in a network positively impacts the sustainability knowledge transfers and engagement level of the individuals.
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Construction Research Congress 2022
Pages: 1055 - 1061
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Published online: Mar 7, 2022
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