A prototype computer-based design management tool

Opportunity costs and capital mobility combine to exercise great time pressure on the design phase of major building projects. However, this phase offers the greatest possibilities for influencing the total project cost and the greatest risk of error. Anything which can be done to shorten design time while maintaining or increasing reliability thus has the potential to produce large overall savings. A key factor is increasing the effectiveness of information management. Computers now offer the possibility of improving information management. However, it will be necessary to overcome the resistance of the design culture. This paper describes the prototype of a computer-based aid which supports information management and decision processes for building design and which takes account of the attitudes of design managers.