A study of the transfer of tacit knowledge by a monitored tutelage programme for quantity surveyors

This thesis is about how tacit knowledge may be transferred. Its aim is to develop a coaching and mentoring programme for Quantity Surveyors. The literature synthesis includes a discussion of tacit and explicit knowledge and a review of knowledge creation, management and transfer. It includes theories of knowledge transfer and a review of concepts involved in mentoring and how it is carried out for knowledge workers in several professions. The review concludes that there is a knowledge gap relating to tacit knowledge transfer in many professions including quantity surveying and that there are several approaches to transferring this knowledge. Tacit knowledge is used by knowledge workers in addressing problems in their work. Action Research is suitable for this. The thesis sets out the way that Action Research formed the basis of developing a monitored tutelage programme (MTP) for transfer of tacit knowledge. The development of an MTP became the methodology for research using the Plan, Act, Observe, Reflect iterations of Action Research. Research followed three stages: a pilot workshop to help determine specific tacit knowledge gaps, a structured questionnaire to determine features of these gaps and a series of four monitored workshops comprising the MTP. Workshops were used to implement and validate findings from the literature review and research. Thesis conclusions were that as a result of the review and Action Research, there was a knowledge gap in relation to the transfer of tacit knowledge to graduate Quantity Surveyors, this gap may be addressed by an MTP, Action Research is suitable for development of an MTP and the MTP developed could successfully transfer tacit knowledge. Potential beneficiaries of an MTP include quantity surveying practices using the programme, programme participants, professional bodies, third level institutions, HR and senior management in firms, workshop mentors and subject matter experts, career experts and employment agencies.