Application of the CBA Decision System to Manage User Preferences in the Design Process

Abstract

One dimension of user-involvement in the design process is the management of user preferences. Managing user preferences, as a way towards optimizing value in the design process, could sometimes involve making tradeoffs among competing design options. The focus of this research is to explore the possibility of applying the choosing by advantages (CBA) decision system to manage user preferences in the design process, especially at the conceptual design stage. The CBA decision system was therefore applied to choose between two conceptual design options in relation to the expansion of an operating theater building at the Holy Family Hospital in Techiman, Ghana. A workshop involving the design team, user-group, and management of the hospital was organized to decide on the options using the CBA approach. The findings from this study illustrate the CBA decision aid as a transparent and participative decision system, capable of creating and sustaining a collaborative atmosphere of trust and respect in the involvement of users to make design choices. The observed attributes of the CBA decision system makes it worthwhile to incorporate it in a user-involvement framework for design process.