Social Networks and Knowledge Creation in the Built Environment : A Case Study

Purpose – The production of the built environment, as any other industrial production, is a knowledge-intensive process. Knowledge resides in many teams/parties who are involved in the creation or production process. This paper seeks to discuss the feasibility of social network analysis as a tool for understanding the process of knowledge creation through communication among team members in the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach – Following a literature review of the characteristics of innovation, knowledge and social networks in a built environment context, a case study is presented. The case study investigates the networks in one project team in a planning and engineering consultancy, employing 5,500 people worldwide. Findings – The network analysis revealed a problem with the project caused not by a widespread failure in social networks, but the isolated failure of one or two sub-networks; however, these had a major impact on the performance of the project as a whole. The cause of this failure, while not clear, can be postulated as being in some part due to the lack of a collaborative culture across disciplines. Multi-disciplinary projects are vulnerable because, while most (disciplinary) teams may function well, failure of just one will jeopardise the project as a whole – a chain is only as strong as the weakest link. Mechanisms do not exist for addressing failure, mid-project, in social networks. The project-centric nature of the sector is also an issue, in that project teams are in a constant state of flux with relationships being established, then staff moving on and a new set of relationships being developed. This does not support long-term stable and trusting relationships. Originality/value – The paper concludes that the use of SNA techniques has practical benefits for inter- and intra-transfer of knowledge and information among team members