Salter, A and Torbett, R (2003) Innovation and performance in engineering design. Construction Management and Economics, 21(6), pp. 573-580. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
This paper explores the experiences of engineering, design and construction organizations (EDOs) in developing innovative approaches to performance measurement in their design activities. It contrasts experiences of these firms with those of manufacturing organizations. It finds that performance measurement of engineering design activities is poorly understood in many industries, including construction. The development of new performance measures can provide a new opportunity for innovation in engineering, design and construction firms. At present, the measures used to assess design in construction are based on the financial performance of a project rather than other important objectives of the design process, such as quality and buildability. In manufacturing industries, firms rely on measures of new product development, but these indicators also say little about the measurement of engineering design activities, that is, those on-going and continuous. To realize the innovative potential of design and performance measures, EDOs need to take a broader perspective on the nature of design activities, and to look to the experiences of leading manufacturing firms to find new ways of measuring and understanding their design activities.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | design; design and construction organizations; engineering; innovation; manufacturing; performance measurement |
| Index terms: | financial performance, buildability, design process, performance measure, manufacturing industry, design and construction, new product development, engineering design, performance measurement |
| Subjects: | industry analysis, design efficiency, design process, performance measurement, business analysis, contractual arrangements, design methods, innovation studies |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Digital Applications, Design Practice, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Procurement |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
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