Abstract:
The effectiveness of the design process significantly influences the performance of a building construction
project. In a complex design environment, the advent of compressed fast-track schedules can cause
disruptions in construction. It is, therefore, imperative to allocate appropriate efforts during design to
minimize these disruptions. Thus, a framework which guides organizations to develop a well-structured
design process will ensure better project delivery.
A preliminary study revealed that design processes in Indian construction industry were generally
unstructured. A more detailed study of the design processes of four Indian developer organizations mapped
the current design processes as swim lane diagrams. Analysis of these processes showed that design at each
organization was driven by certain priorities and the design stage durations varied significantly, especially
in the concept design stage where these priorities have maximum influence. Based on the analysis, it is
apparent that standardization within an organization/project type is required and more feasible, than a
single industry-wide standardization of the process.
This paper also presents a preliminary SIPOC (Supplier, Input, Process, Output, Customer) methodology
to internally standardize design process which is derived from the maturity levels recommended in the
Capability Maturity Model framework. This methodology has been used to develop generic process charts
from the design processes mapped for the organizations sampled. It is anticipated that the availability of
these standards will enable better planning and monitoring of building design.
Citation:
Joe, M., Sahadevan, V., & Varghese, K. (2017). Design process standardisation for building projects in India. In Y.G. Sandanayake, T. Ramachandra & S. Gunatilake (Eds.), What’s new and what’s next in the built environment sustainability agenda? (pp. 161-168). Ceylon Institute of Builders. https://ciobwcs.com/downloads/WCS2017-Proceedings.pdf