6.3 Suspended Ceiling Design Process - Bilkent University

There are three configurations that characterize a system in DSM
theory (Figure 6.18). Parallel and sequential configurations do not
include loops, while coupled configurations include iterations. The
partitioned DSM of suspended ceiling assembly indicates that
parameter decisions at assembly level are made either in a parallel or
sequential manner, but at the system level there are couplings.
Previous research showed that the time for humans to solve a coupled
parameter design problem rises geometrically as coupling size rises
linearly (Hirschi and Frey, 2002). This suggests that although
suspended ceiling design is simple, it may take more time than planned
due to the iterations at the system level.
Three Configurations that Characterize a System
Relationship
Graph
Parallel Sequential Coupled
Representation
A
A
DSM
Representation
A
B
B
A B
149
A
A B
B X
A B
A B
A X
B X
Figure 6.18: Three Configurations that Characterize a System (Adapted
from M.I.T DSM Web Site, 2003)
Using the “AutoFilter” option of the Microsoft Excel, the contents of
information flows were calculated for both assembly and system level
DSMs. Then column charts were produced to document how
B