In order to inform the design of technology support and new procedural methodsfor softwaredesign,we analyzed the content of real design meetingsin threeorganizations, focusing in particular on the questionsthedesignersaskof eachother. We found that most questions concernedthe project requirements, particularly what the software was supposedto do and,somewhatlessfrequently, scenariosof use. Questions about functions to be performed by software componentsand how thesefunctions were to be realized were also fairly frequent. Rationales for design decisions were seldom askedabout. The implications of this researchfor designtools andmethodsarediscussed.
James D. Herbsleb, Eiji Kuwana