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How to evaluate reading and interpretation of differently structured engineering design rationales

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2008

Marco Aurisicchio ,
Marina Gourtovaia ,
Rob Bracewell  and
Ken Wallace
Marco Aurisicchio
Affiliation:
Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Marina Gourtovaia
Affiliation:
Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Rob Bracewell
Affiliation:
Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Ken Wallace
Affiliation:
Engineering Design Centre, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Abstract

Documented engineering design rationale has the potential to become a key source of information about past designs. Ease of comprehension of design rationale might play a crucial role in ensuring that the full potential of documented information is realized and that the effort and time necessary to capture design rationale pay off. This research proposes an empirical methodology for evaluating how structuring design rationale and supplying it with visual nontextual cues influences reading and interpretation. The study compares reading and interpretation of technical documentation presented in different formats to engineering graduate trainees in the aerospace industry.

Keywords

Aerospace EngineeringComparative EvaluationDesign RationaleDiagrammatic RepresentationEmpirical MethodologyIssue-Based Information SystemKnowledge ManagementReading and Interpretation
Type
Research Article
Information
AI EDAM , Volume 22 , Issue 4: Design Rationale , November 2008 , pp. 345 - 358
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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