A decision support tool to mitigate decision-making problems faced by a building design team. Issue 1 (3rd April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Singhaputtangkul, Natee
• Is Part Of: Smart and sustainable built environment. Volume 6:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 2
• Page End: 18
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03
• Subjects: Knowledge management system -- Decision-making -- Quality function deployment -- Building design -- Building envelopes -- Framework analysis -- Design team; Sustainable development -- Periodicals; 720.4705
• DOI: 10.1108/SASBE-06-2016-0009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-6099

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: There are a number of decision-making problems encountered by a building design team. This issue is apparent in assessment of building envelope materials and designs in the early design stage. The purpose of this paper is to develope a decision support tool based on a quality function deployment (QFD) approach integrated with a knowledge management system (KMS) and fuzzy theory to facilitate a building design team to simultaneously mitigate the decision-making problems when assessing the building envelope materials and designs for the first instance. Design/methodology/approach: This study engaged a design team comprising three decision makers (DMs) to test the developed decision support tool through a case study of a representative building project. The study employed deductive qualitative data analysis with use of a framework analysis approach to analyze perspectives of the DMs after completing the case study through a semi-structured interview. Findings: A mapping diagram derived qualitatively from the framework analysis suggested that the tool can help mitigate the identified decision-making problems as a whole. Originality/value: Practical contributions of using the decision support tool include achievement of a more efficient design and construction management, and higher productivity of a project. In terms of academic contributions, this study expands capabilities of a conventional decision support system, KMS, and QFD tool to handle decision-making problems.