ABSTRACT
Since the turn of the century there has been a rapid increase in the number of design managers employed by contracting organisations in the UK. This trend has also been witnessed in many other countries around the globe as contractors seek to deliver better value to their customers and also respond to the challenge of constructing environmentally sustainable buildings. In responding to these and associated drivers, such as more stringent legislation, rapidly changing technologies, evolving procurement systems, and greater responsibility for design quality, many contracting organisations have recognised the value of design. In responding to a changing marketplace, contracting organisations have started to appreciate the impact of effective design management throughout the entire lifecycle of a project, resulting in increased efficiency and competitiveness, and hence better value for their patrons. In turn, this has brought about increased knowledge and understanding of the strategic power that design management brings to their businesses; with design management integral to the management of the project portfolio and the management of the organisation.
