Tommelein, I D (2020) Design science research in construction management: Multi-disciplinary collaboration on the SightPlan system. Construction Management and Economics, 38(4), pp. 340-354. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
As a tribute to Ray Levitt’s early computer science contributions, this paper presents the research methodology he and I in close collaboration with Barbara Hayes-Roth followed to develop the SightPlan system. This research methodology falls under the umbrella of what is known as “design science.” Design science concerns itself with designing and making artefacts to fulfil a purpose, and then testing and validating that they indeed are fit-for-purpose. Design science does not belong in the category of physical science or of fundamental science; instead, it falls in the category of the sciences of the artificial. This paper describes the methodological steps pursued in design science and in parallel illustrates how these steps were instantiated and what artefacts were produced in the course of developing the SightPlan system, a blackboard expert system that lays out temporary facilities on construction sites. The aims of this paper are to recognise Ray’s work as an advisor and researcher, reflect on and promote the use of design science in construction management and economics and thereby participate in the ongoing discussion on research methods in this journal, and illustrate to scholars in this field that research is an opportunistic endeavour.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | artificial intelligence; constraint satisfaction; design science; expert system; knowledge management; planning; site layout |
| Index terms: | journal, science, construction site, site layout, design science research, knowledge management, artefact, expert system, collaboration, falls, satisfaction, artificial intelligence, testing, research methodology |
| Subjects: | sociology, data management, professional development, management, health risk and incident analysis, design practice, project delivery, site logistics, artificial intelligence, professional practice, work location, specialized education, research design and methodology, research dissemination and communication |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Design Practice, Site Management, Organizational Design, Education, Information Management, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Research Practice, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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