Abstract:
The concept of utilising computer-mediated communication and social media applications as knowledge transfer
agents within project environments is explored and a conceptual model for rapid dissemination of knowledge
between resources across the various project phases is proposed. The model takes into account the use of tacit
and explicit knowledge transfer between different project resources working within the same project phase.
Five research questions were posed and, in order to answer these, interviews were conducted with respondents
within a number of large organisations that utilise computer-mediated communication. Barriers to knowledge
transfer mentioned in literature were found to exist in these South African organisations in 2013. A number of
problems relating to the use of social media or computer-mediated communication for knowledge management in
project environments were identified.
Suggestions are made for improving the use of social media for project knowledge management. Specific
applications that organisations use for transferring knowledge were identified and these findings are incorporated
into the conceptual model.
