Zerjav, V; Hartmann, T and Achammer, C (2013) Managing the process of interdisciplinary design: Identifying, enforcing, and anticipating decision-making frames. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 9(2), pp. 121-133. ISSN 1745-2007
Abstract
Although a number of studies are devoted to studying design practice, very little is known about how the managerial decisions are made to steer the design process. This article sets forth an exploration of managerial decision making in the interdisciplinary design process. To this end, the paper derives a theoretical framework, which posits that process-level design management is based on decision-making frames that set the context for design activity. The paper provides evidence for the theoretical framework by using data from an interpretive case study of a large-scale engineering infrastructure project. The case study findings set out the role of process-level design management as the identification, enforcement, and anticipation of decision-making frames. The theoretical relevance of the findings is in the model of process-level design management described as a reflective practice. The findings contribute to practice by introducing the considerations of frame identification, enforcement, and anticipation into the design management skill set.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | case study; construction project management; interdisciplinary design; reflective practice theory |
| Index terms: | construction project management, design process, infrastructure project, decision-making, case study, evidence, exploration, design practice, enforcement, reflective practice, design management |
| Subjects: | project management theory and practice, infrastructure and transport systems, design process, environmental resource management, design methods, professional development, health safety and environment, decision analysis, data collection methods, evaluation and assessment methods |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Risk Management, Design Practice, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Information Management, Project Management, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here