The term of hierarchy can be defined as an “ascending or descending series of elements ranked according to their importance or value”[1]. It is critical that hierarchy is implemented in collaboration. It provides structure and clarity to a group, ultimately, resulting in a more effective collaborative process. Each person understands their role and status within the group and the level of responsibility and expectation attached accordingly.
In the context of this subject, hierarchy can be applied to two main areas. Those two areas include the fabrication task and our group. By placing a hierarchal structure on the fabrication task, we as a group can better create our own hierarchy for ourselves. The process of structuring hierarchy can be divided into four simple steps; decomposition, weighing, evaluation and selection[2]. There is collaboration within and between groups because there is a common goal or objective which they are all working towards. As a group we are working together to fabricate an interactive 3D model of an unbuilt architecture project. That is our mission. It is the problem we are trying to solve.
The first step in developing hierarchy is decomposition which involves structuring the main task/brief/problem into realistically achievable sub-tasks. In the early stages of collaboration, the task has no structure. No plan has been composed to progress towards solving the problem or completing the task. The first step of decomposition splits the primary task into a sub-hierarchy of smaller manageable tasks from which goals can be set and criteria can be assigned. Some examples of sub-tasks that can be decomposed from the fabrication assignment in our group include learning how to use the UT3 software, discovering ways of implementing interactivity in our building as well as accurately modeling it. The importance of these sub-tasks is determined in the second step of structuring hierarchy which is weighing.
In this step, the smaller tasks that have been decomposed from the main task are each given a level of criteria or importance. The magnitude of criteria runs parallel to its importance, hence, each problem becomes prioritized and given a rank. In our group, the UT3 software is new to us all. It is a sub-task or sub-problem which we need to address. We need to be competent in using the program in order to produce a quality final UT3 model. Therefore, there is a high level of criteria and importance attached to this sub-task/sub-problem. There needs to be a greater amount of time and work invested in it by the group compared to other smaller sub-tasks. It is in the third step of evaluation that understanding where each part fits best in the hierarchy of the task.
Comparing all sub-tasks or problems and grouping common elements together helps to simplify the overall process and further clarify the main task/problem. The final step of selection involves using the information evaluated from the third step and producing the best possible hierarchal explanation of the tasks and sub-tasks fore coming for the group to understand in order to more efficiently complete the main task. Once all steps in structuring the hierarchy of the main task have been completed, groups in collaboration have a greater understanding of the problem and sub-problems that are entailed in their task. Having greater clarity of what is ahead allows for groups to collaborate and determine the best course of action to finishing the task. Hierarchy amongst the group can be composed more accurately because the main task has in itself been structured in a hierarchy. Therefore, from understanding the hierarchy of problems or tasks spawned from the main problem, a group can better organize the hierarchy amongst themselves and allocate tasks more critically to achieve the brief more efficiently.
References
1. http://1759.ccbn-nbc.gc.ca/documents/glossary_en.html Accessed: April 10, 2008
2. http://www.rfp-templates.com/Analytical-Hierarchy-Process-(AHP).html Accessed: April 10, 2008
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