A framework for an operational process based internet collaboration platform for interdisciplinary building design

Abstract

Architectural firms in Malaysia have not, as yet, utilized the ICT’s full potential for more productive works in design and interdisciplinary collaboration. The main objective of this thesis is to propose a framework for an operational process based internet collaboration portal (ICP) to enhance communication and collaboration between different professionals in a multi-disciplinary building design team. In the process, it was necessary to establish what the problems associated with the process of collaboration and communication are, how the internet has been and can be used to overcome these problems and how to address the problems related to the use of the internet for collaborative design communication. A normative research methodology was utilized to identify the current practices, operations and operational structure of the five case study architectural firms and how these could be improved for the purpose of design collaboration. The supporting research methods employed included principles of opinion research, empirical research, archival research and analytic research. These were justified in their roles in collecting and analyzing the data from the case study and literature research. The thrust of the research was based on the case-study of five small and medium sized architectural firms in Johor Bahru. The case studies revealed the design collaboration practices and the operational structure of the architectural firms. A TOWS analysis established the possibility of using the strengths and opportunities to overcome the threats and weaknesses in consideration of the firms’ adoption of the ICP. All these enabled the formulation of a generic operational structure model for architectural firms which incorporated the ICP. Analysis of the case studies as well as literature on collaborative portal developments enabled the formulation of a conceptual framework as well as a working framework for the collaborative portal design. These became the vehicle to develop the detailed framework design which incorporated the operational procedures and the necessary links and tools to enable effective design collaboration via the use of the internet. This is the final and main output of the research. Recommended further efforts could be taken in the development of this framework to include the perspectives of the other main collaborators in the design process. The remaining stages of the Outline Plan of Work, i.e. Stages J (Mobilisation), K (Construction to Practical Completion) and L (Post Practical Completion) is another direction that could be taken as an extension of the framework. The next step is the development of the portal itself. The setting up of training facilities for the use of such a portal would be a necessary step in the incorporation of the system by architectural firms. In conclusion, this research is able to inform the industry and academia of how far the AEC industry in Malaysia has integrated ICT in their collaborative design processes. It proposes a pragmatic approach towards enabling architectural firms of different types and sizes to be more successful in implementing the ICP for interdisciplinary building design collaboration.