A Design Process Model Approach for Distributed Cooperative Work

Over the last decade, computer-based software systems, designed to support the cooperative decision making process of dynamically composed design teams have evolved rather slowly. Up to date, commercially available software packages supporting distributed work is groupware that only increases the sharing of informal information among people. Computational methods that use process models and structured data in order to link software and people at the task level are not widely employed and the lack of coordination of distributed processes is the most crucial bottleneck, limiting the size and quality of complex projects. Without these and similar functions, work will remain disorganized and goals such as time and cost reduction cannot be achieved. The focus of this paper is the dynamic nature of the cooperative design process involving a various number of human and/or machine-based domain experts. Several basic requirements necessary to enable holistic project development will be discussed. A process model based on a structure of consolidation nodes and a shared toolbox will be introduced.