Method to capture and prioritize future users requirements of low-income housing

Abstract

In construction, product value, from an end user's perspective, consists of complex choices between many positive and negative attributes. Moreover, there is a lack of methods that reduce the gap between received and intended value by the user. Thus, this research aims to propose a method to capture and prioritize end user requirements, to subsidize the conception and design phases of low-income housing projects, based on a case study carried out in the Minha Casa Minha Vida - Entidades Program (Brazil), using Design Science Research as the research method. The research was divided into three phases, in addition to a literature review. Firstly, in the Exploratory Phase, the Choice-based Conjoint Analysis Technique was adapted to the research context. Secondly, the Development Phase consisted of three steps: (a) user requirements’ capture; (b) requirements’ hierarchy and prioritization; and (c) relationship between Preference Models and end user families of further housing projects. Thirdly, in the Analysis and Reflection Phase, a method for capturing and prioritizing end user requirements was devised, aimed to help the conception and design process of low-income housing projects.

Keywords:
Requirements management; Low-income housing; Conjoint analysis