Author(s)

YAO ZHANG, KUNHUI YE, BEIFEI YUAN

Abstract

Contractors engage in multiple construction projects to bolster their presence and influence within the industry, aiming to capitalize on benefits. The effective dissemination of green knowledge is paramount for project managers seeking sustainable outcomes and the reduction of environmental footprints in construction practices. This study presents a conceptual model delineating the transport of green knowledge across contractor projects, drawing parallels from transmembrane substance transport in cell biology. It identifies pivotal factors and forms of organizational collaboration crucial for facilitating green knowledge transfer, further illustrated through a comprehensive case study. The findings reveal that various project attributes such as green knowledge content difference, expressibility, embeddedness, attitude channel and participation energy significantly influence the modes of knowledge transfer. Active transfer mechanisms, categorized as knowledge pump and co-transfer, leverage project experience accumulation and external personnel as intermediaries. Passive transfer modes, comprising simple diffusion and facilitated diffusion, are determined by the value of green knowledge. Notably, the flow of green knowledge among engineering projects manifests as intersecting trajectories. This study elucidates the dynamics of green knowledge transfer, fostering heightened environmental consciousness within contractor entities, thereby reducing the risk of environmental degradation and elevating project sustainability performance.

Keywords

engineering projects, green knowledge, cell biology, transmembrane transport, knowledge transfer