Design Waste

Design Waste: The Difference Between Exploration and Rework

Not all design iteration is waste. But some of it absolutely is. In this solo episode, Sean breaks down the difference between exploratory iteration that generates value and rework driven by decisions that should have been made before design started.

Topics covered:

• Glenn Ballard's positive versus negative iteration framework and why it matters for every capital project
• The MacLeamy Curve and what it actually implies beyond BIM and IPD
• Why organizational readiness is a leadership question, not a design question
• What a structured chartering session actually does for a project team
• Why mockups and simulation keep getting cut in value engineering, and what the research says about that decision

Sources

Ballard, G. (2000). Positive vs. Negative Iteration in Design. Proceedings of the 8th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC-8). Brighton, UK.

Koskela, L. (1992). Application of the New Production Philosophy to Construction. Technical Report No. 72. Center for Integrated Facility Engineering, Stanford University.

Cho, C.S. and Gibson, G.E. (2001). Building project scope definition using project definition rating index. Journal of Architectural Engineering, 7(4), 115-125. ASCE.

Weiner, B.J., Amick, H. and Lee, S.Y. (2008). Conceptualization and measurement of organizational readiness for change. Medical Care Research and Review, 65(4), 379-436.

Holt, D.T., Armenakis, A.A., Feild, H.S. and Harris, S.G. (2007). Readiness for organizational change. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 43(2), 232-255.

MacLeamy, P. (2004). Collaboration, Integrated Information and the Project Lifecycle in Building Design, Construction and Operation. Construction Users Roundtable White Paper WP-1202.

Construction Industry Institute. Front End Planning Best Practice. University of Texas at Austin.