From the article:
The ‘Axiomatic Design Methodology’ uses ‘Axioms’ that
cannot be proven nor derived from physical phenomena. The
axioms serve as guidelines for the design process of products
and systems. The latest contribution was the addition of the
‘Complexity Axiom’ in 1999. However, the underlying theory
of complexity did not get much traction by designers and their
managers yet. It emphasises difficulties in the design, not
primarily focussing on solutions. The ‘Theory of Complexity’
is converted to a ‘Theory of Maturity’ in this paper. It is
supported with a graphical way to plot maturity as it develops.
It visualises the results in a way that can be understood by all
entities in a company, engineers, managers, and executives.
Understanding the maturity of a system enables selection of
the right measures to control it. Visualisation enables
communication between the interacting parties. If successful
development trajectories are understood, eventually from
earlier experience, even better corrective actions can be
applied. The method appears an affirmative way to graphically
represent progression in design, thus presenting advances in a
positive context. Though positively presented, it is not the
case that the method hides problems; presumed and legitimate
project progression can be quite different, which challenges
the designer to understand the process. In this way, the
method sends out a continuous warning to stay critical on
design choices made.