Austin, S; Baldwin, A and Newton, A (1994) Manipulating the flow of design information to improve the programming of building design. Construction Management and Economics, 12(5), pp. 445-455. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
The increasing complexity of modern buildings and the use of fast-track methods of procurement systems has meant the expeditious and successful completion of the design phase of a project has become ever more important. This paper describes a research methodology that can help plan the building design process. Design models, based on data flow diagrams, have been developed to map information flows during the design of a modern building. These models are analysed using Steward’s design structure matrix, which allows ordering of the tasks to produce schedules or design plans based solely on information flowing between design tasks. Traditional ordering is based on experience but modern complex projects require a more rigorous approach. Design is an inherently iterative activity and design structure matrix analysis reveals how to order most efficiently interdependent tasks and use estimates of design information further to improve the scheduling of design tasks.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | design; design management; matrix analysis; modelling; planning |
| Index terms: | design management, programming, complexity, design model, scheduling, information flow, design structure matrix, research methodology, procurement system, design phase, complex project, estimate, modelling, building design, matrix analysis |
| Subjects: | research design and methodology, programming, design methods, operations research, contractual arrangements, data science, professional practice, architectural design, financial and cost management, analytical methods, strategic project management, design process, systems engineering, information systems |
| Topics: | Time Control, Design Practice, Digital Applications, Procurement, Cost Management, Research Practice, Project Management, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCA |
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