Beyond Models and Decisions: Situating Design through generative functions

Armand Hatchuel (), Yoram Reich, Pascal Le Masson (), Benoit Weil () and Akin Kazakçi ()
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Armand Hatchuel: CGS i3 - Centre de Gestion Scientifique i3 - Mines Paris - PSL (École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris) - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - I3 - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Yoram Reich: TAU - Tel Aviv University
Pascal Le Masson: CGS i3 - Centre de Gestion Scientifique i3 - Mines Paris - PSL (École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris) - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - I3 - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Benoit Weil: CGS i3 - Centre de Gestion Scientifique i3 - Mines Paris - PSL (École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris) - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - I3 - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Akin Kazakçi: CGS i3 - Centre de Gestion Scientifique i3 - Mines Paris - PSL (École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris) - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - I3 - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

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Abstract: This paper aims to situate Design by comparison to scientific modeling and optimal Decision. We introduce " generative functions " characterizing each of these activities. We formulate inputs, outputs and specific conditions of the generative functions corresponding to modeling (G m), Optimization (G o) and Design (G d): G d follows the classic view of modeling as a reduction of observed anomalies in knowledge by assuming the existence of unknown objects that may be observed and described with consistency and completeness. G o is possible when free parameters appear in models. Gd bears on recent Design theory, which shows that design begins with unknown yet not observable objects to which desired properties are assigned and have to be achieved by design. On this basis we establish that: i) modeling is a special case of Design; ii) the definition of design can be extended to the simultaneous generation of objects (as artifacts) and knowledge. Hence, the unity and variety of design can be explained, and we establish Design as a highly general generative function that is central to both science and decision. Such findings have several implications for research and education.

Keywords: Design theory; decision theory; optimisation; C-K theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://minesparis-psl.hal.science/hal-01485144v1
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

Published in International Conference on Engineering Design , 2013, Séoul, South Korea

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01485144

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