An Analysis of Design Decision-Making in Industrial Practice
DS 30: Proceedings of DESIGN 2002, the 7th International Design Conference, Dubrovnik
Year: 2002
Editor: Marjanovic D.
Author: Hansen, C. T.; Ahmed, S.
Section: Design research and technology
Page(s): 145-150
Abstract
This paper describes research that confronts a generic decision-making model with design strategies employed by experienced designers. The relationship between the decision-making activities proposed by the model and the eight design strategies identified by an empirical study of design work is examined. The analysis led to a deeper understanding of the decision-making activities undertaken by engineering designers in industrial practice. The decision-making episodes undertaken by individual designers were supported by design strategies, not by formal decision-making methods. This implies that designers in practice do not rely solely on methods to support their decision-making process, but also on the use of relevant design strategies.
Keywords: Decision-making, industrial practice, empirical research