Limitation of Study Knowledge Contribution

207 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. 208 Figure 6.1. Proposed Knowledge-Based Framework for Conceptual Design Phase 209 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. 210 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.

6.7 Benefits of

Study The knowledge-based Macmillan framework is able to: 1. Facilitate the knowledge flow during the conceptual design phase; 2. Facilitate expert tacit knowledge capture by using the proposed technique of this research; 3. Facilitate expert tacit knowledge conversion to the explicit type formalizing using the proposed technique of this research; 4. Speed up the flow of knowledge which arise from the explicitness of knowledge; and 5. Shorten the flow time which arise from explicitness of knowledge.

6.8 Recommendations for Future Study

This study attempted to find out the required knowledge which has to be exchanged between architects and mechanicalelectrical engineers during the conceptual design phase. There are many other aspects associated with the building projects. Thus, the following studies are recommended: 211 1- This study attempted to propose a knowledge-based framework See details in Table 6.1 for the conceptual design stage. A future study can be conducted to measure the efficiency of knowledge flow improvement by using the proposed framework of this study. 2- This study just focused on the interactions between architects and mechanicalelectrical engineers. Many other experts from various disciplines such as the structural engineer who are involved in building project researches can study this aspect. 3- Similar researches can be conducted to discover the required knowledge through the project life cycle phase. 4- This study was conducted to discover the required knowledge for green building project. There are many different kinds of buildings such as commercial building, hospital and so on; therefore, this study can be performed for different kinds of buildings.