The ‘Knowledge Sharing Toolkit’ is the result of a two-year DTI-funded project carried out by innovation consultancy David Bartholomew Associates (DBA) and nine of the UK’s leading architectural and engineering practices - Aedas, Arup, Broadway Malyan, Buro Happold, Edward Cullinan Architects, Feilden Clegg Bradley, Penoyre & Prasad, Whitby Bird and WSP.

A concise 49 page how-to manual accompanied by nine detailed case studies, the Toolkit shows building design practices how to develop a knowledge strategy to support their business objectives, and explains the main tools and techniques for learning and sharing knowledge, and how to use them.

Governments and business gurus alike assert that knowledge is the key to innovation, economic growth and commercial success, and construction needs to catch up with other industries in its use of knowledge management. But managing high-value professional knowledge - as opposed to simply managing documents and data - is not as easy as it looks, and the (many) books on the subject concentrate overwhelmingly on large multinationals in the manufacturing and process industries. The very different circumstances and needs of professional practices in a project-based industry have been largely ignored. The Knowledge Sharing Toolkit aims to fills the gap for design practices, and much of the advice is equally relevant to other professionals such as surveyors.

It is based firmly in reality, drawing on research and experience in other industries accumulated over the past decade as well as results from DBA’s recent research. During the project, all nine of the practices taking part in the project put their management of knowledge under the microscope, improved their existing systems, implemented new ones, and assessed the results. All the main tools and techniques described in the Toolkit were tested by one or more of the project partners, and most have been adopted as standard practice.

The Toolkit also draws on results from an earlier study of learning from experience led by DBA in collaboration with Amicus, BAA, the BP-Bovis Global Alliance, Buro Happold, Gardiner & Theobald, National Grid Transco and SecondSite Property.

The partners in the project were:

DBA (lead partner, a consultancy specialising in the innovation process, from policy and research & innovation programme planning to knowledge management and practical implementation in industry. Founded in 1992, its clients include government departments, public bodies, research organisations and commercial companies. DBA has carried out several major projects on knowledge management in construction, and worked with many of the leading bodies and companies in the industry.

Aedas, one of the largest architectural practices in the UK, with 14 offices and 950 staff worldwide.

Arup, a multidisciplinary practice with over 7000 staff operating out of 73 offices in 32 countries.

Broadway Malyan, an architectural practice with 400 staff and 9 offices across Europe.

Buro Happold, an engineering consultancy with over 800 staff worldwide.

Edward Cullinan Architects, a small London practice with nearly 40 staff.

Feilden Clegg Bradley Architects, a mid-sized practice with 110 staff based in Bath and London.

Penoyre & Prasad, architects with over 60 staff based in London.

Whitbybird, engineers with nearly 300 staff working out of 6 offices around the UK.

WSP, a large engineering plc with over 5000 staff working from over 100 offices worldwide.

BSRIA, one of the UK’s leading construction research organisations.