Knowledge Reuse in a Small Company in the Water Treatment Industry: A Case Study

Abstract

This paper presents a case study that explores how a small company in the water treatment industry can facilitate knowledge reuse. Small companies often find themselves focusing resources on operational activities and fire‐fighting, preventing them from properly utilizing previously acquired knowledge in new similar projects. We conducted in‐depth interviews with company employees to establish a set of requirements for the new knowledge system. We then gathered theory through a literature review and developed the system iteratively with frequent feedback from employees at the company. The paper includes a case study on an ongoing wastewater treatment plant project in the company. The new knowledge management system is built up of interconnected A3s that provide the user with both a system overview and detailed information. We validated the results through a survey. The survey displayed that employees were positive towards implementing and using the new knowledge management system. We observed that employees were curious during the development process and willingly contributed when required. This paper also presents different barriers and benefits related to knowledge management initiatives in a small company.