Managing the Workplace Design Process

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject will critically examine theories, models and frameworks of planning and design decision making, generically, and in their application to the design of the workplace. The focus will be on the strategic management of the process of planning and design of the workplace, including organisation of the project team and their responsibilities; cross-disciplinary expectations of architecture; development of an appropriate methodology; systematic gathering and use of relevant project information, and, the communication of desired outcomes for a particular project.

The premise of the learning is, firstly, that innovative responses to the complexity of the changing workplace result from creative leadership of the planning and design processes, and secondly, the act of designing is an heuristic process as well as a problem identification tool. Students will explore strategies for using design thinking as a method of inquiry to encourage creative and innovative thinking by all participants at all stages of the workplace project. They will investigate procedures for the discovery and application of knowledge for effective decision-making about the provision of appropriate workplaces. The subject content will be explored through critical texts and particular case studies in the areas of health, education and office workplaces.

Blyth and Worthington, Sebastian Macmillan (2004), Becker (2004), Horgen et al (1999), Rowe or other

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• Describe the different approaches to decision-making and for enhancing creativity and innovation in the articulation of workplace needs and in its provision;
• Identify and explain the differences between key forms of reasoning, and of scheduling for the planning, designing and implementation stages of a project;
• Determine the appropriate use of performance and prescription based approaches to strategic planning;
• Structure the hierarchy of information to suit the design and procurement processes; and
• Understand the structures and processes for achieving symbiotic relationships between the workplace needs, property practices and facility capabilities of an organisation.

On successful completion of this subject, students should have improved their skills in:

• Establishing models and processes for the management of the Design Information and Decision Making processes of a project;
• Critical thinking;
• Reflective Practice;
• Value Setting; and
• Strategic Briefing.