While the scope dimension groups models that target similar situations, the type dimension groups models that have similar overall purpose. Considering the literature and extending the classification of Wynn, four model types were identified:
Procedural models convey best practices intended to guide real-world situations.
Analytical models provide situation-specific insight, improvement, and/or support which is based on representing the details of a particular DDP instance.
Abstract models convey theories and conceptual insights concerning the DDP. Such models have yielded important insights into design and development, and have inspired the creation of pragmatic approaches, but many of them do not directly offer guidance for practitioners.
Management science/operations research (MS/OR) models use mathematical or computational analysis of representative or synthetic cases to develop generally applicable insights into DDP issues.
Table 1 The organising framework comprises two dimensions, each with several categories
Dimension
Category
Models in this category
Scope
Micro-level
Focus on individual process steps and their immediate contexts
Meso-level
Focus on end-to-end flows of tasks as the design is progressed
Macro-level
Focus on project structures and/or the design process in context
Type
Procedural
Convey recommendations of best practice
Analytical
Provide ways to model specific situations for analysis/improvement/support
Abstract
Convey theories and conceptual insights into the DDP
MS/OR
Develop insights by mathematical/computational analysis of representative cases
Fig. 1
Positioning key models of design and development within the framework generates a map of the literature
