Knowledge management in Irish construction: The role of CPD accreditation

Research into knowledge management (KM) in the global construction sector has proliferated in recent years. The need for individuals to develop and learn within this paradigm indicates that continuing professional development (CPD) has a part to play. There is however a distinct lack of empirical evidence on this topic in the context of the Irish construction industry. This paper investigates current approaches to both KM and CPD within the Irish construction sector and the influence exerted by Engineers Ireland, the leading professional engineering body in the country. Based on the findings of a study into KM in the leading twenty Irish construction companies, the paper presents the results of research conducted with the Managing Directors and Senior Managers from these organisations. The research has found that almost half of the leading construction companies are now considering adopting a formal approach to KM, the level of CPD within these companies being relatively high. Engineers Ireland CPD accreditation programme appears to be influencing these companies in both their KM and CPD endeavours.