Knowledge Preservation Hub
User Guide
Welcome to the MCAA Knowledge Preservation Hub, where decades of masonry industry wisdom from nine master contractors is preserved and made accessible through AI technology.
Features Overview
1. Ask a Question
Purpose: Get insights from multiple mentors on any masonry business topic.
How to use:
- Type your question in the input box (e.g., "How can I manage cash flow?")
- Click the "ASK" button
- View personalized responses from relevant mentors
Best for: Getting diverse perspectives on business challenges, comparing different approaches, understanding industry consensus.
2. The Mentors
Purpose: Access individual mentor profiles and have one-on-one conversations.
Available Mentors:
How to use:
- Click on any mentor's photo
- Ask them specific questions in the chat interface
- Each mentor responds with their unique personality and expertise
3. Topic Explorer
Purpose: Browse knowledge organized by business topics.
Topics include: Planning, Execution, Review, and various business aspects
How to use:
- Click on topic badges to explore specific areas
- View aggregated wisdom from multiple mentors on each topic
4. Guided Q&A
Purpose: Explore pre-selected important questions with expert answers.
How to use:
- Browse the question cards
- Click on questions that interest you
- Read detailed responses from relevant mentors
Tips for Best Results
- Be specific: "How do I handle slow-paying clients?" works better than "payment issues"
- Ask about business topics: The mentors' expertise covers contracts, cash flow, employee management, growth strategies, and business operations
- Try different mentors: Each has unique perspectives based on their experience
- Explore related topics: The system understands context - "employee morale" will find content about team building, retention, and culture
Important Notes
- All mentor responses are based on documented interviews and real experiences
- If a mentor says something "wasn't documented in the MCAA project," it means that specific topic wasn't covered in their interviews
- The system synthesizes actual quotes and experiences - nothing is fabricated
- For technical masonry techniques not covered in interviews, mentors will redirect you to their documented business expertise
Getting Started
- Start with a broad question in "Ask a Question" to get multiple perspectives
- Follow up with individual mentors for deeper insights
- Explore the Topic Explorer to discover related knowledge
- Check Guided Q&A for commonly asked industry questions
Support
This Knowledge Preservation Hub is part of the MCAA's initiative to preserve and share the wisdom of master contractors for future generations of the masonry industry.