Architecture Briefing Framework from Lean Theory Perspective

Abstract

The project briefing is a fundamental activity in the design process. It defines the project purpose, objectives, restrictions, functions, and space requirements. It involves learning by engaging various project stakeholders to recognize ways to deliver value to the owner and the end-users through the building designs. However, inexperienced clients may fail to define precise project requirements and demand professional assistance to determine the project components. Also, the design team may misinterpret project briefs that ignore essential project information, which causes rework, waste of time, and additional cost during the design process. Therefore, earlier studies indicate the importance of collaboration between different project stakeholders when developing the project brief. This study discovers the project briefing process for public service projects in Saudi Arabia through primary research methods. Consequently, the results signify different limitations in local practice such as; lack of standard practice in developing the project brief, lack of end-user and contractors involved in project briefing, absence of facility environmental considerations, inadequate time allocated for project briefing, and absence of clear understanding of the project’s unique functions. These limitations indicate missing values within the local practice. The primary goal of this study is to develop an approach that improves the briefing process by engaging different project stakeholders to achieve better design outcomes. The lean theory offers principles to maximize value and minimize waste in various sectors. Several academic publications explore the application of lean in architecture, engineering, and construction. However, this study identifies a literature gap in applying lean principles to the briefing process. Therefore, this research develops a framework that utilizes a lean approach to enhance the project briefing process since it requires the owner to make decisions that affect the design and construction phases. The framework aims to provide a shared understanding of the project requirement between the project owner, end-users, and the delivery team.