Information systems for design support: An approach for establishing functional requirements

Systems for supporting information access and utilization in the design process are considered. An evolving methodology for determining the functional requirements for design support is discussed. The methodology emphasizes the support system attributes that users assess, either in conjunction with the acquisition of the system or as part of ongoing use. The methodology is organized into four phases during which measurements of users’ perceptions are planned and subsequently executed. These phases are called: naturalist, marketing, engineering, and sales and service. In this paper, the authors emphasize the naturalist and marketing phases up to and including the requirements with which one begins the engineering phase. The measurement issues and methods associated with these phases are illustrated via experiences with five design support development projects. Lessons learned during these projects are summarized, including subsequent modifications of the present methodology.