Detailed empirical studies of student information storing in the context of distributed design team-based project work

This paper presents the findings of six empirical case studies investigating the information stored by engineering design students in distributed team-based Global Design Projects. The aim is to understand how students store distributed design information in order to support distributed information management skills preparing students for working in a global context. It presents where information was stored; what information was stored; when and how. Qualitative and quantitative research methods are outlined along with results. Numerous issues are identified and discussed, establishing that there is need for more prescriptive measures to support distributed design information management. The paper concludes by presenting a series of recommendations concerning the emergent themes of information storing; information storing systems; information storing patterns; and information strategy.

► Empirical studies explore distributed design information stored by student teams.
► Distributed design information management issues are identified.
► Prescriptive support is needed for distributed information management for students.
► Early recommendations address the issues found in the studies.