A Process Management Strategy for Re-Design: An Anchoring Adjustment Approach

Abstract

Abstract Preceding research on the re-design process focused on the development and verification of an Anchoring and Adjustment design process model. Compared to the existing, predominantly top-down, models, this new model was tailored specifically to describe designers’ approaches to re-design tasks. Building upon that work, this paper presents an evaluation of a re-design process strategy that is based on the key elements identified in the Anchoring and Adjustment model (a general pattern for re-design activities and two evaluation metrics). The overall goal was to formulate an efficient and effective process management strategy unique to re-design activities. Data were collected from three industry re-design projects for the evaluation. First, an analysis of the data confirmed that the pattern of design activities and evaluation metrics used by the company’s designers could be mapped onto those that comprise the Anchoring and Adjustment model. Second, the analysis of the data suggested that with additional formalization — based on an anchoring and adjustment approach — the company’s current process management technique could provide more accurate feedback to the designers for the more efficient and effective management of their re-design processes. One of the industry case studies is detailed to illustrate the research results and conclusions.