Identifying Shared Understanding in Design Using Document Analysis

Abstract

Abstract Design as a social activity characterized by information exchange, compromise and negotiation frames much of out understanding of the design process. At the heart of this social activity is the development of a shared understanding of the design problem. The design stakeholders jointly form a shared understanding through a process of defining the problem, exploring the space of solutions and searching for information. A shared understanding is a critical element in successful, collaborative design. This paper describes a formal approach for identifying shared understanding in design by analyzing the documentation. By mining the documentation for signatures of a shared understanding, specifically a common frame of reference and a similar voice, a shared language and vocabulary of the design could emerge. Information management tools built around the shared understanding would be more effective in directing and alerting the design team of relevant information.