Interaction Dynamics in Collaborative Design Discourse

Computer conferencing is an important emerging technology that promises to have dramatic effects on coordinating the development of large‐scale engineering projects. The technology provides instant inexpensive access to all those involved in a project, thereby reducing project costs and enhancing quality. This article outlines key principles that are necessary to realize the full potential of computer‐mediated communication and coordination of group work in the architecture/engineering/construction (AEC) industry. The approaches proposed are based on an analysis of collaborative design discourse data in physical meeting settings. The interactions of group members have been modeled, and the results have been statistically verified. Based on this model, deficiencies in current computer‐mediated communication are outlined, and a set of principles for effective conferencing systems is formulated to address these defficiencies. Implementations of these recommendations have been integrated into a distributed collaborative design tool being developed by this research group.