FITTING INFORMATION-SYSTEMS TO COLLABORATING DESIGN TEAMS

This study examined collaboration in multidisciplinary design teams to identify how such teams can be more effectively supported through inf ormation technology. Accordingly we addressed collaboration in terms o f information sharing, focusing on four internal processes and six ext ernal obstacles impinging on such sharing. Six design experts involved in U.S. Air Force systems acquisition and design were interactively i nterviewed to elicit their knowledge concerning design team interactio ns and perceived obstacles to effective information sharing. This know ledge was structured as concept maps-graphical depictions of key conce pts and the relational links among them. This knowledge was then categ orized with respect to our focal information sharing issues and analyz ed for its implications. We summarize these results and conclude by co nnecting them to emergent trends in information technology.