Stakeholder value evolution, capture and assessment in AEC project design

The success of a design lies in its ability to fulfill client values. However, the ambiguity in identification of values by clients renders the task complex and challenging. The investigation of the dynamics involved in stakeholder definition of the project values entails the need for research methods used in social sciences. This paper first presents the process of client value generation and evolution based on an ethnographic study of the architect selection process of two institutional buildings. The study consists of participant and non-participant observations of the project conceptualization and architect selection process. It is observed that along with client requirements incorporated in architectural design, the design delivery efficiency criteria of the architect have equal considerations in architect selection. Therefore, the values in Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC) design can be categorized into Project Design Delivery Values (PDDVs) and Architectural Design Values (ADVs). The paper proposes a framework for the evaluation of design of a built facility using suitable Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) technique.