A representation model of collaborative design mechanism using Channel Theory

Collaboration is one of the effective approaches that encourages us to share knowledge together and exchange ideas within a team. Sometimes, a novel worthy knowledge that is not held by the members emerges because of the collaboration. Such knowledge often contributes to create prime solutions in the collaboration process. To investigate novel knowledge that could be obtained from collaboration process, information flow between each individual should be considered. However, the mechanism of generating such new knowledge is implicit. In this paper, a representation model of effects of collaboration in a design process is proposed. New knowledge that is gained from a collaboration can be described by using the proposed model. Moreover, A calculation tool has been developed based on the proposed model.