Case Study on Design Management: Inefficiencies and Possible Remedies

Delivering better products with a reduced lead time and less resources has become the primary focus of design management. The aim of this work is to revisit typical design management inefficiencies and discuss possible remedies for these problems. To this end, a case study and interviews with seven Estonian architects were carried out. The data obtained was analyzed within the framework of the transformation-flow-value theory of production. Despite its failure to deliver customer value, a single-minded transformation view of operations has been the dominant approach taken in design management and processes, leading to inefficiencies in design practices

If CPM is so bad, why have we been using it so long?

Why has the Critical Path Method (CPM) been used so widely for so long given its inability to produce predictable outcomes? For shedding light on this paradox, the formative period of the CPM is analysed from two main angles. First, how was the CPM embedded into the construction management practice? Second, what was the methodological underpinning of the development of the CPM? These questions are researched through a literature review. In terms of embeddedness into practice, it turns out that the CPM morphed from being a way of production control, into a method for contract control. In consequence, the promotion of the CPM by owners has been crucial for pushing this method to be the mainstream approach to scheduling and production control. Regarding methodological underpinning, it turns out that the CPM was developed as a way of optimization, as part of the quantitative methods movement. This movement was largely based on the axiomatic approach to research. In good alignment with that approach, there was no attempt to empirically test quantitative models and their outcomes. In this context, the unrealistic assumptions and conceptualizations in CPM did not surface in forty years. These results are argued to be helpful in critical discussions on the role and merits of CPM and on the methodologies to be used in construction management research

Design Management in a Design Office: Development of the Knowledge Base

In this second paper in a series of three, the aim is to develop a theoretical knowledge base for design science research (DSR) activity within the next paper. This is primarily a literature review based paper, inspired by the problems summarized in the first paper. The paper starts with a description and justification of the prototheory of design and design rhetoric. It has been argued that the design science has been concerned with the artefact rather as a technical than a social phenomenon. It is opportune to propose that the proto-theory of design and design rhetoric represent different, yet related dimensions of a productive act (techne). These concepts provide the necessary prescription for the root cause analysis of the problems addressed within the first paper and practical design and design management conceptualization within the third paper

Design Management in a Design Office: Development of the Model for 'To-Be'

As the third paper on design management in a series of three, design science research activity was carried out. Based on the problems identified within the first paper and the knowledge base established in the second paper, theoretical and practical design process and management models were developed. Within the language of two-step abductive reasoning, the theoretical model served as a solution concept for developing a practical solution. This research reports the first cycle of design science research. The result is the description of "to-be" to facilitate the change management within the case study organization

Design Management in a Design Office: Solving the Problem of Relevance

In this study we contend that the conceptual foundations of conventional construction design and design management are obsolete, and these need to be substituted by a more comprehensive theoretical basis. As the first paper in the series of three, the main objective of this study is to justify the research by determining the significant problems and challenges related to the design management in a case study organization. Design science research methodology is chosen to develop a scientifically grounded solution with practical relevance. Based on surveys, interviews, database analysis and observations, we conclude that there are significant problems with the design management practice. The major issue with design management is related to the poor and simplistic conceptualization of the design task. The problems summarized in this study facilitate the quest for the proper theoretical understanding and developing a knowledge base for designing a new process model

Complexity in Designing Energy Efficient Buildings: Towards Understanding Decision Networks in Design

Most important decisions for designing energy efficient buildings are made in the early stages of design. Designing is a complex interdisciplinary task, and energy efficiency requirements are pushing boundaries even further. This study analyzes the level of complexity for energy efficient building design and possible remedies for managing or reducing the complexity. Methodologically, we used the design structure matrix for mapping the current design tasks and hierarchical decomposition of lifecycle analysis for visualizing the interdependency of the design tasks and design disciplines and how changes propagate throughout the system, tasks and disciplines. We have visualized the interdependency of design tasks and design disciplines and how changes propagate throughout the system. Current design of energy efficiency building is a linear and one-shot approach without iterations planned into the process. Broken management techniques do not help to reduce the complexit

Overview of building information modelling in healthcare projects

In this paper, we explore how BIM functionalities together with novel management concepts and methods have been utilized in thirteen hospital projects in the United States and the United Kingdom. Secondary data collection and analysis were used as the method. Initial findings indicate that the utilization of BIM enables a holistic view of project delivery and helps to integrate project parties into a collaborative process. The initiative to implement BIM must come from the top down to enable early involvement of all key stakeholders. It seems that it is rather resistance from people to adapt to the new way of working and thinking than immaturity of technology that hinders the utilization of BIM

Collaboration in Design – Justification, Characteristics and Related Concepts

The purpose of this article is to understand the academic landscape on collaboration in design, its characteristics and related concepts for promoting collaboration within in the project based production systems. We aim to answer to the following three questions: How to define collaboration in design and why individuals need to collaborate during design? What characterizes effective collaboration in design? Which concepts support the development of collaboration in design? For shedding light on this subject, a literature review is conducted and applicability to Architecture, Engineering and Construction industry and project delivery are discussed. In this study, it was found that collaboration is a complex phenomenon, which explains the diversity of views and many complimentary concepts in organizational and design literature. Collaboration requires the management of material and knowledge boundaries, in order to develop common goals, processes and product. Lean construction concepts, methods and tools have helped the teams to develop collaborative design and construction practices

On Epistemology of Construction Engineering and Management

In philosophy of science, there have been two different starting points for epistemology: Platonism and Aristotelianism. These two alternative starting points have played a major role also in the formation of fundamental ideas of engineering and management generally as well as in relation to construction. It is contended that an overly Platonic influence on engineering and management has created a number of problems. For solving these problems, beyond mere patching, a more balanced take on Platonism and Aristotelianism is needed