A Process-Social Perspective for Understanding Design Information Flow
2017
Download PDFDOI: https://doi.org/10.60164/f7h3e6b2h
Authors: Malak Al Hattab, Farook Hamzeh
Citation:
Hattab, A., Malak, & Hamzeh, F. (2017). A Process-Social Perspective for Understanding Design Information Flow. In Lean Construction Journal pp. 1-11.
Abstract:
Question: How can we better understand the impacts of lean practices and BIM-based
design on the flow of design information?
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present a formerly unexplored perspective that
integrates both the process, i.e., flow of design information, and the social network,
i.e., interactions among design teams. This process-social perspective is used to
understand, measure, and analyze information flow within communication networks
to assess the impacts of lean practice and BIM-based design on design workflow.
Research Method: Agent-based modeling and social network analysis
Findings: This novel design management strategy focuses, simultaneously, on interaction
dynamics and information diffusion to assist design teams in enhancing design flow,
knowledge transformation, and value generation while reducing wastes.
Limitations: The developed agent-based model and social network analysis need to be
tested on real-life case studies.
Implications: The approach captures the dynamics of lean practices and the use of
Building Information Modeling on communication and information exchange between
design participants. When applied to case studies, results can set path for decision
makers to implement desired changes to improve design workflow between teams so
that the design intent can properly flow and be transformed into value adding
output.
Value for authors: This study presents a novel method that has not yet been explored to
aid researchers and decision makers in better understanding and analyzing the
underlying dynamics of information flow during design as well as highlighting and
counteracting problems with current design flows.