Using the physical properties of artefacts to manage through-life knowledge flows in the built environment : an initial exploration

Rooke, CN; Rooke, JA; Koskela, LJ; Tzortzopoulos, P

Abstract

Effective through-life management of built facilities requires effective through-life knowledge management to
support it. The KIM (Immortal Information and Through-Life Knowledge Management) project attempted
to develop such an approach, based on a dichotomy of knowledge and information. Knowledge is conceived
in terms of communities of practice. An initial philosophical analysis demonstrates deficiencies in this
conception. Drawing inspiration from production theory, a tripartite analysis is offered, suggesting that
knowledge flows consist of: social practices, information and physical properties. Literature on physical
properties from design studies, production management and ethnomethodology is briefly reviewed to
demonstrate the information bearing functions of physical properties. Fieldwork conforming to the unique
adequacy requirement of methods was carried out on construction sites, in hotel and hospital facilities during
the use stage of their life cycles. Safety barriers on construction sites were found to have informational properties
beyond their function as a physical barrier. The quality of information delivered by wayfinding signs was found
to depend upon both the physical placement of the signs in relation to the surrounding environment and the
physical layout of the sign itself. It was found that social practices are institutionalized to repair the knowledge
flow when the physically instantiated wayfinding system breaks down. Finally, through the investigation of
practices surrounding emergency resuscitation equipment, it was found that if the physical properties of
information are not designed to mesh with the work practices of the setting, this will lead to a breakdown in
the knowledge flow. It is suggested that elements of knowledge management, ethnomethodology, production
management and design studies might be integrated to form the basis of a hybrid discipline.

Citation

Rooke, C., Rooke, J., Koskela, L., & Tzortzopoulos, P. (2010). Using the physical properties of artefacts to manage through-life knowledge flows in the built environment : an initial exploration. Construction Management and Economics, 28(6), 601-613. https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2010.489925

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2010
• Deposit Date: Oct 19, 2010
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Journal: Construction Management and Economics
• Print ISSN: 0144-6193
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 601-613
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2010.489925
• Keywords: Knowledge management; design; through-life management; ethnomethodology; production theory; product-service
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2010.489925