Decision Making in the conceptual design phase of the design processes
A descriptive study contributing for the strategic adequacy and overall quality of design outcomes
- Name
- Rita Almendra
- Year
- 2010
- Institution
- Lisbon School of Architecture Universidade de Lisboa
- Supervisors
- Fernando Moreira da Silva, Henri Christiaans
- Discipline
- Design
- Scope
- Design Process
- Taxonomy
- Epistemology/Praxiology
- Type
- Theoretical
- Language
- English
- Wordcount / Pagecount
- 114,660 / 364
- Joint supervision
- No
Decision-making in the conceptual phase of the design process
Research Process (12 methods)
x
Undergraduate design students
Undergraduate design students
Undergraduate design students reflection on design process
Manufacturing industry companies (n=99)
Managers, marketeers, designers in different companies
Dutch design students
Portuguese undergraduate design students
Group of experts evaluate student projects
Curriculum analysis and comparsion of the design courses of TU Delft and FAUL
Project with company CLIMAR with teams of 5/6 Portuguese students
Project with company CIMP with four groups of four Dutch and Portuguese students
| # | Name of Method | Research Phase | Research Approach | Researcher Role | Object of Study / Participants | N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Literature review | Exploratory | Qualitative | x | x | x |
| 2 | Questionnaire | Exploratory/Generative | Qualitative | x | Undergraduate design students | 24 |
| 3 | Questionnaire | Exploratory/Generative | Qualitative | x | Undergraduate design students | 21 |
| 4 | Experiment | Exploratory | Qualitative | x | Undergraduate design students reflection on design process | 32 |
| 5 | Questionnaire | Generative | Qualitative | x | Manufacturing industry companies (n=99) | 99 |
| 6 | Interview | Generative | Qualitative | x | Managers, marketeers, designers in different companies | unspecified |
| 7 | Verbal protocol analysis | Generative | Qualitative | x | Dutch design students | 10 |
| 8 | Verbal protocol analysis | Generative | Qualitative | x | Portuguese undergraduate design students | 13 |
| 9 | Expert panel | Generative | Qualitative | x | Group of experts evaluate student projects | 6 |
| 10 | Case study | Generative | Qualitative | x | Curriculum analysis and comparsion of the design courses of TU Delft and FAUL | 2 |
| 11 | Design project | Generative | Qualitative | x | Project with company CLIMAR with teams of 5/6 Portuguese students | 32 |
| 12 | Design project | Generative | Qualitative | x | Project with company CIMP with four groups of four Dutch and Portuguese students | 16 |
Knowledge Transfer & Exchange
Knowledge Exchange (PhD Process): Exchange with Academia
| IK&T | Academia | Design Practice | Society |
|---|---|---|---|
| Context | No | No | No |
| Vision | Yes | No | No |
| Means | No | No | No |
Recommendations (13)
Develop new design methodologies that improve time management, strategic adequacy, and total quality management; approach wicked problems with solution-focused synthesis.
- Scope:
- Meso → Macro
- Time Horizon:
- Medium
- Evidence Strength:
- Indicative
- Feasibility:
- Medium
Research and test case-based design and constraints/decisions posting; evaluate CCPM-like time management approaches in design projects.
- Scope:
- Meso
- Time Horizon:
- Short → Medium
- Evidence Strength:
- Indicative
- Feasibility:
- High
Monitor and compare decision-making processes of freshman design students and experienced designers.
- Scope:
- Meso
- Time Horizon:
- Medium
- Evidence Strength:
- Exploratory
- Feasibility:
- Medium-High
Introduce Decision Making as a transversal topic in the Design program (studio, management, product engineering).
- Scope:
- Meso
- Time Horizon:
- Short
- Evidence Strength:
- Indicative
- Feasibility:
- High
Use the decision-making framework/model to design exercises; integrate Education and Business.
- Scope:
- Meso → Macro
- Time Horizon:
- Short → Medium
- Evidence Strength:
- Indicative
- Feasibility:
- Medium
Assess the role of group dynamics in decision making; strengthen negotiation, communication, and team management content.
- Scope:
- Meso
- Time Horizon:
- Short
- Evidence Strength:
- Indicative
- Feasibility:
- High
Investigate how idea generation in the design process relates to decision making.
- Scope:
- Micro → Meso
- Time Horizon:
- Medium
- Evidence Strength:
- Exploratory
- Feasibility:
- Medium
Investigate the role of intuition in decision making and in the design process.
- Scope:
- Micro → Meso
- Time Horizon:
- Medium
- Evidence Strength:
- Exploratory
- Feasibility:
- Medium
Study the impact of cultural differences on the design process and on decision making.
- Scope:
- Meso → Macro
- Time Horizon:
- Medium
- Evidence Strength:
- Exploratory
- Feasibility:
- Medium
Leverage design cognition in education to strengthen the research–education–industry relationship.
- Scope:
- Macro
- Time Horizon:
- Medium
- Evidence Strength:
- Indicative
- Feasibility:
- Medium
In school practice, ensure students work with diverse design problems and distinct approaches.
- Scope:
- Meso
- Time Horizon:
- Short
- Evidence Strength:
- Indicative
- Feasibility:
- High
Stimulate structured approaches so designers strengthen group dynamics management, idea generation, information management, and decision making.
- Scope:
- Meso
- Time Horizon:
- Short → Medium
- Evidence Strength:
- Indicative
- Feasibility:
- High
Systematically capture and disseminate created knowledge; establish a network for information exchange to expand Design Thinking.
- Scope:
- Macro
- Time Horizon:
- Medium
- Evidence Strength:
- Indicative
- Feasibility:
- Medium