Learning Capability in Construction Projects: from the Learning Organization to the Learning Project

Effective learning is a crucial element in any management system. In the construction industry, the lack of feedback and knowledge transfer is mentioned as one of the core challenges for delivering sustainable buildings. Another challenge is developing individuals working in the projects and transfering knowledge between projects. It is generally recognised that learning take place in construction projects, nevertheless most research examines the concept of learning either from a company perspective, i.e. how learning can be integrated in the company’s management system, or by focusing on learning within specific professions. This paper aims at filling a gap in the organisational learning literature by introducing the concept of learning capability in construction projects. The influence of contract form, organisation, culture, knowledge, leadership etc is discussed, including how it is integrated in the project management system. The paper is based on a literature review of the concepts of learning theories and characteristics of construction projects. It argues that more research is needed to identify how construction projects should be organised and managed to increase the individual learning as well as the organisational learning.

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