The role of logbooks as mediators of engineering design work

Hamish C McAlpine; Philip Cash; Ben Hicks

doi:10.1016/j.destud.2016.10.003

The role of logbooks as mediators of engineering design work

Hamish C McAlpine, Philip Cash, Ben Hicks

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

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Abstract

Information transformation is key to engineering design work. However, research on how information management tools, and logbooks in particular, mediate this, is fragmented. We explore this via two studies (from which we confirm the central role of logbooks) and propose three modes of mediation: facilitating cognition and creation, gathering and collation of information, and staging and transformation of information. The findings explain the widespread use of logbooks through their support of these three modes. Consequently, we contend that multi-modal mediation is one of the main reasons why logbooks are such a central and enduring medium. This synthesises and extends theory on mediation and information use in engineering design. Further, practical insights are derived for the development new information management tools.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-29
Number of pages	29
Journal	Design Studies
Volume	48
Early online date	12 Nov 2016
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.destud.2016.10.003
Publication status	Published - Jan 2017

Keywords

information processing
design knowledge
reflective practice
logbooks

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This is the author accepted manuscript (AAM). The final published version (version of record) is available online via Elsevier at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142694X16300680. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
Accepted author manuscript, 4.46 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

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Professor Ben J Hicks
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- School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering - Professor in Mechanical Engineering
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title = "The role of logbooks as mediators of engineering design work",

abstract = "Information transformation is key to engineering design work. However, research on how information management tools, and logbooks in particular, mediate this, is fragmented. We explore this via two studies (from which we confirm the central role of logbooks) and propose three modes of mediation: facilitating cognition and creation, gathering and collation of information, and staging and transformation of information. The findings explain the widespread use of logbooks through their support of these three modes. Consequently, we contend that multi-modal mediation is one of the main reasons why logbooks are such a central and enduring medium. This synthesises and extends theory on mediation and information use in engineering design. Further, practical insights are derived for the development new information management tools.",

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AU - McAlpine, Hamish C

AU - Cash, Philip

AU - Hicks, Ben

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N2 - Information transformation is key to engineering design work. However, research on how information management tools, and logbooks in particular, mediate this, is fragmented. We explore this via two studies (from which we confirm the central role of logbooks) and propose three modes of mediation: facilitating cognition and creation, gathering and collation of information, and staging and transformation of information. The findings explain the widespread use of logbooks through their support of these three modes. Consequently, we contend that multi-modal mediation is one of the main reasons why logbooks are such a central and enduring medium. This synthesises and extends theory on mediation and information use in engineering design. Further, practical insights are derived for the development new information management tools.

AB - Information transformation is key to engineering design work. However, research on how information management tools, and logbooks in particular, mediate this, is fragmented. We explore this via two studies (from which we confirm the central role of logbooks) and propose three modes of mediation: facilitating cognition and creation, gathering and collation of information, and staging and transformation of information. The findings explain the widespread use of logbooks through their support of these three modes. Consequently, we contend that multi-modal mediation is one of the main reasons why logbooks are such a central and enduring medium. This synthesises and extends theory on mediation and information use in engineering design. Further, practical insights are derived for the development new information management tools.

KW - information processing

KW - design knowledge

KW - reflective practice

KW - logbooks

U2 - 10.1016/j.destud.2016.10.003

DO - 10.1016/j.destud.2016.10.003

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

SN - 0142-694X

VL - 48

SP - 1

EP - 29

JO - Design Studies

JF - Design Studies

ER -

The role of logbooks as mediators of engineering design work

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