Boundary objects in offshore platform design: the connections between individual and collective dimensions
Renato Porthun, Ricardo Manfredi Naveiro, Francisco José de Castro Moura Duarte
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to analyze teamwork performance in offshore platform design, discussing the contribution of design intermediary objects, also called “boundary objects”, to establish a connection between collective and individual approaches in design activities. These boundary objects allow participants to conceive and maintain a shared conception of a problem in which knowledge is structured in applied situations during the decision making process. The nature of the design process is presented stressing the two complementary dimensions – individual and collective – that participants need to integrate to find a feasible solution to a problem. The role played by graphical representations in the design process is discussed, and the association to the concept of “boundary objects” is also presented. An application to a real situation on offshore platform design is described, showing how a specific boundary object – the electronic mock-up – strongly influence how participants relate, identify the tasks to be accomplished, and make decisions accordingly. The conclusion emphasizes some “boundary objects” features and suggests some issues for future development.