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Design+ Transposing human action research to design

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Figure 6. Experimental setup used in Bavelas’ study (left, based on Guetzkow and Simon ), communication patterns (center, redrawn from Leavit ), and
possible combinations of symbols on the cards (right, redrawn from Leavit )
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via prescribed channels that determined each group’s task satisfaction had been observed to be considerable,
communication pattern. 74,76 including significant frustration, disengagement, and even
The first task assigned to the groups was to identify a the disintegration of workgroups, and hence the non-
missing card from a deck of six cards. Each of the six cards accomplishment of group objectives.
showed five symbols of a set of six symbols, as indicated on This raised the following design research prompt: If
the right of Figure 6. With one of these six cards removed different group communication patterns result in varying
randomly, the remaining five cards had only one symbol levels of task performance and satisfaction in well-structured
in common. At the beginning of each group observation, problem solving, then what effects do different group
every group member received one of the five selected communication patterns have on task performance and
cards. The group members were seated in five booths in a satisfaction in the ill-structured context of design? With the
pentagonal configuration, as shown on the left of Figure 6. goal of the card-identification task being well-defined,
They were asked to identify the missing card using written it would be worthwhile to conduct an analogous study
messages only. Messages could be exchanged only via of the effects of communication patterns within groups
some channels established by the experimenters ahead of tackling ill-structured design tasks, with a view to effective
each group observation by opening and or closing slots in task completion and task satisfaction, and possibly other
the partition walls between the five booths, shown on the dependent variables such as tendencies toward cooperation
left of Figure 6. The selection of open slots corresponded versus collaboration within groups, as well as the creative or
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to the group communication pattern (Figure 6) of each innovative value of the design outcomes. Further possible
given experimental session. The task was considered independent variables that could be studied include levels
accomplished when all members of the group signaled that of subjects’ expertise (i.e., design experience) and, given
they had the answer. the contemporary prevalence of online project work, the
mode of work online versus offline. This is illustrated with a
The second task was identical to the first task, but schematic view of two possible experimental settings, offline
the differences between the symbols on the cards were and online, in Figure 7. In the online variant, subjects would
significantly more subtle, increasing the difficulties for be placed separately, connected via a computer network
them in describing the symbols. Both tasks were closed- with experimentally configurable communication patterns.
ended in the sense that in either case, there was one and
only one correct solution. 4. Discussion
Bavelas observed significant effects of the Based on a review of related literature, we argued that much
communication patterns used (primarily representing the research into purposeful human action, task performance,
degree of centralization or decentralization) on both groups’ and how they may be improved has emerged from studies
task performance effectiveness and the task satisfaction set in well-structured task performance contexts. Explicitly
perceived by group members. Some of these effects on or implicitly, insights gained through such work suggest

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2025) 10 doi: 10.36922/dp.4875