Abstract Based on the project team's knowledge activities in the knowledge chain, we analyse the knowledge management, develop a design structure matrix (DSM) model, and utilize the AIDER clustering to solve the cooperation problems caused by team members from different departments. By analysing the coupling relationship between team members' knowledge chains and clustering the knowledge activities with a high coupling degree, the project team's knowledge chain achieves integration. Finally, plugging the proposed method into a business case shows that the method can improve the project team's knowledge management performance.