TY - GEN
T1 - Towards empirically-derived guidelines for process modelling interventions in engineering design
AU - Kerley, Warren
AU - Wynn, David C.
AU - Moss, Michael
AU - Coventry, Gina
AU - Clarkson, P. John
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Task-network modelling approaches are widely used to understand and improve product development (PD) processes. The best-practice application of these tools is often presented prescriptively. This paper proposes that best-practice, and academic understanding, of PD process modelling can be further developed through an empirical approach, in which modelling tools are taken as given and practice is analysed in terms of how industry stakeholders use these tools. We argue this inductive approach can result in process modelling guidelines which explicitly recognise the challenges of modelling in industry. We thus analyse four cases of process modelling at Rolls-Royce plc and find that: 1) modelling is a social process of knowledge-creation; 2) effective modelling requires selection of the appropriate methods and tools at the right time; and 3) understanding the purpose of each interaction between participants in the modelling process helps to choose the best approach. To conclude we present guidelines to suggest which modelling approach should be used in which context, where context is described in terms of the purpose of a given modelling interaction.
AB - Task-network modelling approaches are widely used to understand and improve product development (PD) processes. The best-practice application of these tools is often presented prescriptively. This paper proposes that best-practice, and academic understanding, of PD process modelling can be further developed through an empirical approach, in which modelling tools are taken as given and practice is analysed in terms of how industry stakeholders use these tools. We argue this inductive approach can result in process modelling guidelines which explicitly recognise the challenges of modelling in industry. We thus analyse four cases of process modelling at Rolls-Royce plc and find that: 1) modelling is a social process of knowledge-creation; 2) effective modelling requires selection of the appropriate methods and tools at the right time; and 3) understanding the purpose of each interaction between participants in the modelling process helps to choose the best approach. To conclude we present guidelines to suggest which modelling approach should be used in which context, where context is described in terms of the purpose of a given modelling interaction.
KW - Design process modelling
KW - Knowledge creation
KW - Process modelling practice
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84859224574&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84859224574
SN - 9781904670056
T3 - DS 58-1: Proceedings of ICED 09, the 17th International Conference on Engineering Design
SP - 217
EP - 228
BT - DS 58-1
T2 - 17th International Conference on Engineering Design, ICED 09
Y2 - 24 August 2009 through 27 August 2009
ER -