A generic model for reflective design

Abstract

Rapid technological change has had an impact on the nature of software. This has led to new exigencies and to demands for software engineering paradigms that pay particular atttention to meeting them. We advocate that such demands can be met, at least in large parts, through the adoption of software engineering processes that are founded on a reflective stance. To this end, we turn our attention to the field of Design Rationale. We analyze and characterize Design Rationale approaches and show that despite surface differences between different approaches, they all tend to be variants of a relatively small set of static and dynamic affinities. We use the synthesis of static and dynamic affinities to develop a generic model for reflective design. The model is nonprescriptive and affects minimally the design process. It is context-independent and is intended to be used as a facilitator in participative design, supporting group communication and deliberation. The potential utility of the model is demonstrated through two examples, one from the world of business design and the other from programming language design