Limitation of Study Knowledge Contribution
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planned and managed like workflows. Macmillan 2001 framework for the conceptual design phase includes just the sequence of activities for achieving
the concept design of building projects. This study had discovered the required knowledge during the concept design and provided a linkage
between the steps of the existing Macmillan framework and the required knowledge. To this end, this study used detailed definitions for Macmillan’s
step. The proposed knowledge-based framework is displayed in Figure 6.1.
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Figure 6.1. Proposed Knowledge-Based Framework for Conceptual Design Phase
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2- Developing a tacit knowledge capture technique by combining tacit observation and explicit repertory grid documentation. The aim is
simultaneous conversion of tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge. Indeed, the proposed framework of this research includes the required knowledge
which has to be exchanged through each step of the concept design. For instance, specifying minimum daylight standard in the forth step of
Macmillan framework “Developing requirements” step is essential to determining the size of spaces. Therefore, to specify the required tacit
knowledge during the conceptual design phase we used observation knowledge capture technique. Then, as mentioned earlier See 2.4.4, the
structure of the repertory grid knowledge capture was borrowed to develop a tacit knowledge capture technique during the conceptual design phase. Rows
of the grid indicate the activities of Macmillan 2001 framework. Columns of grid constitute the knowledge which was discovered through observing the
conceptual design phase. Using this grid, the required knowledge for each step of the concept design can be captured and converted to explicit type.
According to many researchers such as Nonaka 1995, tacit knowledge is difficult to share and formalize. Using the proposed technique of this research,
capturing expert tacit knowledge can be facilitated during the conceptual design stage. Other researchers such as Ibrahim and Nissen 2008 found that
tacitness of the knowledge can augment the probability of knowledge loss. Using the proposed technique of this study, the required knowledge is
converted to the explicit type. Therefore, the probability of knowledge loss through concept design stage is reduced.
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In summary, the study claims novelty on the developed knowledge-based framework for the conceptual design phase and the proposed technique to capture experts’ tacit
knowledge.