BUS606: Operations and Supply Chain Management

Process models and modelling approaches have been created to address many different issues in the DDP. The organising framework developed in this article, summarised in Fig. 1, highlights the value of models and modelling in accentuating different aspects of the DDP and maps the topology of the literature. Both research and practice suggest that most situations may be usefully described by more than one category of model. At the same time, a model can provide insight on different levels depending on how it is interpreted and applied. Each model emphasises different elements from a web of interconnected ideas, offering different terminology and different visual depictions. In many cases, the perspectives can be difficult to reconcile. We concur with Bahrami and Dagli and others in recommending a pluralistic approach, in which the DDP is simultaneously perceived from many points of view, from the individual designer's problem-solving process through to the need for continuous improvement. At the same time, it should be recognised that some models represent conflicting philosophies. A design and development process should be designed considering the requirements and constraints of its context, and thus, not all models will be relevant to every situation.

Many questions remain open to debate. Although a fully integrated perspective on the design and development process might be difficult to attain, we suggest that there are numerous opportunities to selectively synthesise insights across layers and categories of our framework. Overall, it is hoped that the framework and review presented in this article may prove useful to researchers seeking to position their work, as well as to educators and practitioners seeking an overview of the approaches and perspectives that have been developed.