Framework for Measuring the Rationale Clarity of AEC Design Decisions
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Volume 17, Issue 3
Abstract
Current architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) design processes often rely on precedent to resolve complex decisions. However, changes to stakeholder concerns, design methods, and building products devalue much of this precedent knowledge. Project teams need to clearly communicate their decision rationale to develop consensus about design decisions. This study reviews a broad range of relevant theory from decision-based design, decision analysis, decision theory, linguistics, logic, organization theory, and social welfare. Rationale is defined as a set of assertions regarding distinct components (i.e., managers, stakeholders, designers, gatekeepers, goals, constraints, alternatives, and analysis) that support design decisions. Conditions of clarity (i.e., coherent, concrete, connected, consistent, credible, certain, and correct) are also defined. These definitions are used to measure the clarity of assertions, components, and the rationale as a whole. Taken together, this rationale clarity framework (RCF) provides a structured view that enables an objective evaluation of design decision methods.
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Published In
Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 17 • Issue 3 • September 2011
Pages: 86 - 96
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 11, 2010
Accepted: Dec 29, 2010
Published online: Jan 3, 2011
Published in print: Sep 1, 2011
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