A process model for design team communication within fast-track building projects using project websites

The factor time within building projects is on high pressure because of the increasing need for faster delivery of buildings. Within fast track, complex building projects the design process is an important key. Through case analyses offart-hack design processes it became obvious that process and people aspects score mostly low in these types of projects. Improvement in terms of collaboration and communication is needed as well as better tools and high professional skills of design team members to collaborate and communicate effectively. Solutions can be found in integral design methods with an increased level of interaction facilitated by electronic media. In this paper, design communication facilitated by project websites within fast-track, integral design processes is analyzed and modeled. The paper discusses communication aspects like information richness, behavior, and culture and it summarizes project web features. Special attention is given to electronic mediated communication of design teams to increase the interactivity of such team. A process model for integral design is presented. It consists of a chain of design team meetings linked by virtual information exchange sessions (VIS). VIS can be used by design teams, to enhance the interactivity of the team through freguent, asynchronous exchange of design information. The paper ends with a description of the changes in management of design teams using the process model.