Skip to main content
Log in

An examination of the decision-making process used by designers in multiple disciplines

  • Published:
TechTrends Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Design-thinking is an inductive and participatory process in which designers are required to manage constraints, generate solutions, and follow project timelines in order to complete project goals. The researchers used this exploration study to look at how designers in various disciplinary fields approach design projects. Designers were asked to describe a project and a decision that they had to make previously. Decisions were analyzed to determine whether they were ready-made versus custom-made solutions. The process by which the designers arrived at the decisions was categorized as idea-imposition or discovery. Results indicated that designers work with multiple constraints while designing, and the majority used a custom-made solution following a discovery process.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Boling, E., Easterling, W., Hardre, P., Howard, C., & Roman, T. (2011). Addie: Perspectives in transition. Educational Technology 51(5), 34-38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cennamo, K., & Brandt, C. (2012). The “right kind of telling”: Knowledge building in the academic design studio. Educational Technology Research & Development, 60(5), 839 - 858.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cross, N. (2011). Design thinking. New York: Berg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delattre, M., Ocler, R., Moulette, P., & Rymeyko, K. (2009). Singularity of qualitative research: From collecting information to producing results. Tamara Journal of Critical Organization Inquiry, 7(3): 33-50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hale, J.E., Hale, D.P., & Dulek, R.E. (2006). Decision processes during crisis response: An exploratory investigation. Journal of Management Issues, 18(3), 301-320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubka, V. & Eder, W.E. (2003). Pedagogics of design education. International Journal of Engineering Education, 19(6), 799-809.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jonassen, D.H. (2012). Designing for decisionmaking. Educational Technology Research & Development, 60(2), 341-359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawson, B., & Dorst, K. (2009). Design expertise. Oxford, UK: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lincoln, Y.S, & Guba, E.G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowgren, J., & Stolterman, E. (2004). Thoughtful interaction design: A design perspective on information technology. Boston, MA: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Means, B., Salas, E., Crandall, B., & Jacobs, T.O. (1993). Training decision makers for the real world. In G.A. Klein, J.Orasanu, R., Calderwood, & C.E. Zsambok (Eds.), Decision making in action: Models and methods (pp. 306-326). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mintzberg, H., Raisinghani, D. & Theoret, A. (1976). The structure of “unstructured” decision processes. Administrative Science Quarterly, 21, 246-275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mintzberg, H. & Westley, F. (2001). Decision making: It’s not what you think. MIT Sloan Management Review. 42(3), 89-93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nutt, P.C. (2002). Making strategic choices. Journal of Management Studies, 39, 67-96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nutt, P.C. (2008). Investigating the success of decision-making processes. Journal of Management Studies, 45(2), 425-455.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stefaniak, J., Baaki, J., & Blake, A.M. (2012). An examination of the decision-making process used by organizational leaders during the great recession. Performance Improvement Quarterly 24(4), 81-102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tracey, M.W., & Boling, E. (in press). Preparing instructional designers and educational technologists: Traditional and emerging perspectives. In M. Spector, D. Merrill, J. Elen, & M.J. Bishop (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Educational Communications and Technology.

  • Visscher-Voerman, I., & Gustafson, K.L. (2004). Paradigms in the theory and practice education and training design. Educational Technology Research and Development, 52(2), 69-89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jill E. Stefaniak.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Stefaniak, J.E., Tracey, M.W. An examination of the decision-making process used by designers in multiple disciplines. TECHTRENDS TECH TRENDS 58, 80–89 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-014-0789-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-014-0789-7

Keywords

Navigation