Knowledge

Knowledge management (KM) is now recognized as a core business concern and intellectual assets play a vital role in gaining competitive advantage. Within the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, where the need for innovation and improved business performance requires the effective deployment and utilization of project knowledge, the need for strategic knowledge management is also being acknowledged.[1]

Increasing the knowledge in the architectural industry is very important although the construction world is the slowest industry to adopt IT solutions. With the three industries relating to the built world they sure don’t work as harmonious with each other than what they should. A lot of money, time and labour can be saved if IT solutions are found. But because of the IT world and globalization, trying to find the knowledge needed for these industries are not very hard.

Such ways to keep your knowledge updated and find out these new techniques is; word of mouth, internet searches, interacting in forums, meetings, cross pollinating industry talk, national and international research and testing. As stated above there are specialised focused groups dedicated to keeping the company informed and updated.

What we know so far are the very basics, I never knew what gaming engines were and what they can be used for. I have heard of Half Life 2 but only in my second year of university. 3DS Max is a great tool but was only introduced, again, in second year of uni. Even other forms of applications have been superseded but still available for us to choose as subjects. University only gives a taste of what knowledge of softwares are out there, it is up to us as students going out in the world of work to find and utilise these tools. Knowledge has proved powerful and can be so in many ways. It can be the decision of a client to hire you. Even sounding knowledgeable can be sufficient enough to attain a job.

As students we should be building each others skills and knowledge and is encouraged by this university, the faculty and especially this course forces to do so.
[1] http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/mcb/ci/2002/00000002/00000001/art00005