Collaborative Design Management

Collaborative Design Management

The design process has always been central to construction, but recent years have seen its significance increase, and the ways of approaching it multiply. To an increasing degree, other stakeholders such as contractors have input at the design stage, and the designer’s role includes tasks that were traditionally the realm of other professions. This presents challenges as well as opportunities, and both are introduced, discussed, and analysed in Collaborative Design Management. Case studies from the likes of ARUP, Buro Happold, VINCI Construction UK Ltd, and CIOB show how technologies (BIM, podcasting), innovative working (information management, collaboration), and the evolution of roles (the designer-contractor interface, environmental compliance) have changed design management as a process. Starting from a basic level, the reader is introduced to the key themes and background to the design management role, including definitions of the responsibilities now commonly involved, and the strategic importance of design. Influential technologies currently in use are evaluated, and the importance they are likely to have in future is explored. This combination of case studies from leading practitioners, clear explanations of design management roles and activities, and an exploration of how to succesfully achieve collaborative design management makes this a highly topical and uniquely valuable book. This is essential reading for professionals and students of all levels interested in construction design management, from all AEC backgrounds.

Collaborative Research Design

This book articulates and interconnects a range of research methods for the investigation of business management processes. It introduces new directions that both recognise the business community as stakeholders in the research process and seek to include them in that process. The book presents a range of contemporary research methods with particular focus on those that allow insights into business managers’ thoughts and behaviours. It includes fresh views on traditional research designs, for example new approaches to using literature reviews, experiments, interviews and observation studies. It also considers cutting-edge research methods, such as the use of vignettes, workshops, improvisation and theatre, as well as computer-based simulation. In addition to discussing new approaches to data capture and data generation, it presents new methods of data analysis by considering various forms of models and modelling, new forms of computer-aided text analysis and innovative approaches to data display. Finally, the book provides a link between the philosophical underpinnings of research and the different research methods presented. This is often neglected but undertaking the knowledge-generating journey that is research includes having a view on reality and marrying this to beliefs about how the reality to be investigated can be best expedited.

Managing Collaborative Design