6.3 Suspended Ceiling Design Process - Bilkent University

epresenting them as connections between organizational entities in the
matrix. The aim of the analysis is to cluster teams into groups where
interactions are most frequent. The analysis facilitates understanding
the critical interfaces between groups and developing integrative
mechanisms.
Information flow between teams can be characterized in several ways.
A taxonomy for information flows in a team-based DSM is presented
below.
Table 4.3 A Taxonomy for Information Flows in a Team-based DSM
(DSM MIT, 2003)
Level of Detail Sparse (documents, computer networks) to rich
(models, face-to-face)
Frequency Low (one-shot, batch) to high (piece-by-piece, on
line, intensive)
Direction One-way (monologue) to two-way (dialog)
Timing Early (preliminary, begins the process) to late
(completed work, ends the process)
The team-based DSM is an effective tool for modeling organizational
elements and their relationships. The DSM provides a platform for
communicating about alternative organizational structures and
perspectives. One limitation of the method is that a single team-based
DSM shows interactions between teams at a given point in time.
Showing dynamic relationships may require multiple DSMs. Eppinger
(2001) have proposed a team-based DSM to analyze a hierarchical,
team-based organization for automobile engine development.
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