Evolution of Information Control and Centralisation Through Stages of Complex Engineering Design Projects
Introduction:
Complex engineering design projects are comprised of networks of interdependent activities, which in turn are implemented by networks of interdependent people. These people are assigned, both formally and informally, to project activities and then interact to execute activities and to exchange project related information. This project architecture defines how and why information flows between activities [Braha & Bar-Yam 2007]. Moreover, as the design process unfolds throughout its stages, we expect the way in which information flows between activities to evolve. This evolution through different stages can be traced to temporal and co-dependent aspects such as the progression of the design object, the maturity of the design process and the changing interaction patterns between and within people and activities. Considering this temporal evolution, we explore how the relative control that different activities have over information flow changes over time. This control can affect when and which activities are in position to intermediate or influence information in the project, which can in turn shape the temporal dynamics of the design process.