Abstract:
Purpose -This paper aims to create a social constructivist perspective on collaborative architecture that is complementary to the rational-analytic perspective as embodied in the ¿hard¿ project management tools. Design/methodology/approach ¿ Two theoretical perspectives from the field of design methodology, ¿design as co-evolution¿, and ¿design as a social process¿, form the base for an integrated perspective of collaboration. This integrated perspective describes in detail the social process among multi functional actors involved in co-creational processes. A third theoretical framework discusses the process of maturing conflicts and conflict prevention using the integrated perspective on collaboration. Data from two empirical studies are used to illustrate both perspectives. The first study used a protocol study approach and the second a grounded approach. Findings ¿ This paper shows the similarities in design methodology and conflict literature by introducing a social constructivist perspective on collaborative architecture. Especially, the notion of cognitive errors as root cause of ¿conflictuous¿ situations becomes apparent. The paper describes in detail the role of perceptual differences that can make and break collaborative architecture.
