Analysis and Applications of Design Structure Matrix, Domain ... - MIT

achieving functions. A medium-level DSM may focus more on the program level, and
still a detailed DSM may focus on the project and task level. All of these DSMs can have
tremendous value to making the total organization work well, yet as previously discussed,
identifying the context of the DSM is critical to informing the assumptions of the
resulting analysis.
Summary of DSMs
In summary, the DSM is a matrix consisting of nodes and relations of a single domain.
The DSM can be utilized for both the social and technical domains, yet traditionally has
not addressed the system interactions with the environment since the matrix is flat. DSM
does not allow clear representation of multiple relations or time evolutions, but can be
very useful in intra-domain analysis which will be discussed later in this paper.
Domain Mapping Matrix (DMM)
Eppinger, and many other researchers in product development and management research,
recognized that the analysis of the single-domain interaction patterns leads to “learning
about the particular product development situation and how to improve.” Meanwhile,
comparing patterns across the domains (multi-domain interactions) allows assessment of
“effectiveness of the process and organization to develop the particular product.”
(Eppinger 2002) Although his framework only included three domains (Product,
Process, and Organization), the realization of the importance of the multi-domain
interactions has pushed the conceptualization of DSMs.
Building upon the DSM literature, Danilovic and Browning (2007) present a framework
that distinguishes the single- and multi- domain interactions using DSM and Domain
Mapping Matrices (DMM). The DMM examines the interactions across domains: the
rows represent nodes of one domain, while the columns represent nodes of another
domain. Unlike the DSM, the DMM is an mxn rectangular matrix since the rows and
columns are not identical. By combining both DSM and DMM methodologies, the
analysis results are enriched, providing an expanded view of the system.
The early research is largely focused on product development systems, identifying five
domains important to the examination of product development projects. These domains
include “the goals domain the product (or service, or result) system; the process system
(and the work done to get the product system); the system organizing the people into
departments, teams, groups, etc.; the system of tools, information technology solutions,
and equipment they use to do the work; and the system of goals, objectives, requirements,
and constraints pertaining to all the systems.” (Danilovic and Browning 2007) Figure 2
depicts a generalized view of the DSM/DMM representation.
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