Influence factor analysis of collaborative conceptual design process based on knowledge visualization

The application of knowledge visualization in collaborative conceptual design process is a new research field. One of the most important tasks is to find the influence factors which affect this process, as well as problems it facing. This paper presents a detailed research and analysis on these factors, based on a great deal of literature analysis in areas of knowledge visualization, organization management, knowledge management and so on. First of all, 27 factors were extracted from literature analysis and expert interviews. And their weights were determined using the experimental method. And then the relationship of these factors was analyzed according to the similarity matrix algorithm. Finally, a factor model for collaborative conceptual design was proposed which clearly divided these factors into three categories, from the point view of the participants, the process control, and the environment. It helps to find out the major problems in this process and lays a good foundation for the knowledge visualization of the collaborative conceptual design. As a credible reference, it will also play an important role in the final evaluation stage of the knowledge visualization effects.