Design Structure Matrix (DSM)
Design Structure Matrix (DSM) also referred to as dependency structure matrix is a tool for managing complexity. DSM helps the project team to agree on the design of a complex product in a timely manner and it helps to design a complex product to be modular so that portions of it can be more easily changed or modified. Management of complexity using a DSM was initiated by Don Steward in 1981. The DSM is a method for picturing relations and dependencies within a certain activity. It is a matrix-based tool that represents information flows that allow the representation of complex task (or team) relationships in order to determine a sensible sequence (or grouping) for the tasks (or teams) being modeled.
