Computer-supported Conflict Management in Concurrent Engineering: Introduction to Special Issue
Abstract
Computer-supported Conflict Management in Concurrent Engineering: Introduction to Special Issue SAGE Publications, Inc.1994DOI: 10.1177/1063293X9400200301 M.Klein Boeing Computer Services, Seattle CONCURRENT ENGINEERING: Research and Applications Why is conflict management important? Increasmgly, complex artifacts are designed* using concurrent engineenng processes that are distnbuted across time, participants, and functions. These design activities are highly interdependent. In the aircraft domain, for example, a change m the geometry of a wheel- well structure may require changes m the routing of the hydraulic lines since they are typically attached to major structural members. Changes m the hydraulic irne routmg m turn necessitates changes m the electrical-line routing because of safety-related requirements on physical separation between hydraulic and electncal systems. Changes by any design discipline may require an analysis discipline to ensure that weight, noise propagation, and other global requirements are still met. This mter-dependency leads to the possibility of frequent conflicts, since design decisions made m one context may be inconsistent with affected design decisions being defined elsewhere. Empincal studies have indeed shown that conflict is ubiquitous m such settings; m the architecture domain, for example, half of all interactions between collaboratmg designers were found to involve detecting and resolving design conflicts [1] ]