6.3 Suspended Ceiling Design Process - Bilkent University

A parameter-based DSM may provide insights into the following system
properties.
1. Information ownership (who produces a particular piece of information).
Designers may not be aware of what information they hold and what
information they owe to others. DSM can be an efficient learning tool to
discover previously unknown patterns of organizational architecture.
2. The pattern of information dependency.
The DSM method is based on the premise that there is an underlying
structure of design decisions. Due to the complexity and collaborative
nature of design process, the pattern of information dependencies may
not be easily discovered. A DSM opens up the information dependency
patterns to the participants.
3. The optimum sequence of parameter decision points.
In conventional practice, the sequence of design decisions is often
based on intuition and professional experience of designers. There is
no established method in the industry for examining the
appropriateness of decision sequences. Besides its use as a
descriptive tool, a parameter-based DSM can also be used to provide
the optimum sequence of parameter decisions.
4. Critical parameters that cause large iteration cycles.
Decisions on some parameters affect a large number of parameters in
building design. Consequently, the changes in those parameters are
more likely to cause larger iteration cycles. A parameter-based DSM is
very useful for identifying such parameters, called “critical” parameters.
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