The Key Components of Knowledge Transfer for Problem Solving in Adaptive Reuse Projects: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The adaptive reuse project requires complete and accurate historical information and high levels of expertise from the project team members. Within the typology of adaptive reuse projects, the ability to capture and transfer the unique set of experience from project to project is important to create the relevant knowledge. Previous adaptive reuse studies focused on project success, potential for reuse, benefits, and sustainability. However, research related to creating and transferring skills and knowledge from adaptive reuse project settings has received relatively little attention to date. The study specifically investigates the key components of knowledge transfer for the problem solving process in adaptive reuse projects. In particular, the paper seeks to establish an intellectual capital framework for adaptive reuse projects that could help the project team members transfer their knowledge during problem solving process. This study adopted the qualitative approach to data collection. The data were collected from 14 semi-structured in-depth interviews across two case studies. Data from the interviews were analyzed using content analysis for within-case analysis with the aid of Nvivo Version 9. The finding of the study highlights that the key factors of transferring knowledge were effectiveness and efficiency, similar project teams, project teams actions and sources of information on transferring of intellectual capital among project team members. The contribution of this study is the development of an intellectual capital framework for adaptive reuse projects. This framework can be used as a template for future practice and research in the field of adaptive reuse and knowledge management. In conclusion, the study enables the integration of intellectual capital and knowledge transfer theory within the specific contextual adaptive reuse project settings.