Design patterns as guidance for designers of groupware used by team for the development of innovative products

Abstract

This chapter proposes a design pattern based on the Six Thinking Hats Creativity technique to foster the collaboration among specialists of various fields. It exemplifies the value of pattern languages for the work in multidisciplinary teams and discusses how the proposed pattern helped in a design project in which a groupware system is developed. Following the structure of flow design patterns, the Six Thinking Hats Technique is described in the pattern format taking the problem context and its forces into account. In its solution part, the pattern describes the types of tasks as well as the types and structure of groups for each of the various roles defined by this creativity technique. The core solution of the present pattern is to shift between various perspectives and to incorporate multiple views of the stakeholders. © 2011, IGI Global.