Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
We Need a Universal Design Project Outcome Performance Measurement Metric: A Discussion Based on Empirical Research
Skogstad, Philipp; Steinert, Martin; Gumerlock, Karl; Leifer, Larry
Type:
Year:
2009
Editor:
Norell Bergendahl, M.; Grimheden, M.; Leifer, L.; Skogstad, P.; Lindemann, U.
Author:
Series:
ICED
Section:
Design Methods and Tools
Page(s):
473-484
Abstract:
This paper aims to contribute and channel a discussion on the need for a universal outcome performance measurement for design projects. After introducing the problem verbally, an example situation of a missing universal success metric is given based on research in the context of a project-based engineering curriculum. The lack of such metric poses two problems: 1) when facing the choice between design projects of fundamentally different nature and industries, enterprises make suboptimal resource allocation decisions; 2) since a general common denominator in form of a success metric is missing, current design research is restricted to analyzing and comparing similar design projects. Currently there is no agreement on a general construct or variable that defines and measures the success of design projects. Hence a universally accepted dependent variable may be needed in order to create, test and verify/falsify hypotheses and theories through methods such as meta-analyses.
Keywords:
