Hanno Wupper, Hans Meijer, A Taxonomy for Computing Science To design is to invent a formally provable statement
Abstract
We try to capture the essence of information technology and computing science, arguing that information technologists have the same principal goal as all technologists: to create machines with certain properties. To achieve this, they formalize the problem, i.e. abstract the properties into a specification and invent or develop a schema, i.e. an abstraction of the machine s structure. Subsequently, it is their principal task to prove that the schema satisfies the specification. Computing scientists develop mathematical and physical means to support or even enable that task. From this, the principal research questions of computing science may be derived.
From this viewpoint, we try to propose a consistent set of notions together with a consistent terminology, which may clarify the relation of information technology and computing science to other scientific disciplines and also give rise to new ideas about computing science education.
Not read, may not be that useful
Wendy E. Mackay & Anne-Laure Fayard HCI, Natural Science and Design: A Framework for Triangulation Across Disciplines, DIS'97: Designing Interactive Systems, August 18-20, 1997, ACM, pp 223-234
Abstract
Human-computer interaction is multidisciplinary, drawing paradigms and techniques from both the natural sciences and the design disciplines. HCI cannot be considered a pure natural science because it studies the interaction between people and artificially-created artifacts, rather than naturally-occurring phenomena, which violates several basic assumptions of natural science. Similarly, HCI cannot be considered a pure design discipline because it strives to independently verify design decisions and processes, and borrows many values from scientists.
The purpose of this paper is to provide a simple framework that describes how the research and design models underlying HCI can be integrated. We explore the relationships among these approaches in the context of a particular research site, CENA, the Centre d' Études de la Navigation Aérienne, and illustrate how the various disciplines can contribute to a complex design problem: improving the interface to the French air traffic control system.
The framework provides one perspective for understanding the various research approaches, and, more importantly, suggests new research directions. The resulting cross-disciplinary triangulation can increase the effectiveness of the individual research and design approaches.
Initial thoughts: could provide some interesting insights......update... not really relevant to the masters or design science.
Dennis Wixon, Karen Holtzblatt, Stephen Knox, Contextual Design: An emergent view of design, Proceedings of CHI'90
Abstract
We offer an introduction to contextual design as an emergent method for building effective systems. Con- textual design addresses a number of the inadequacies in previous methods by emphasizing: interview meth- ods conducted in the context of the users work, codesigning with the user, building an understanding of work in context, and summarizing conclusions through out the research. We contrast this design method to usability engineering and artifact examina- tion.
Allan Lee, Irreducibly Sociological dimensions in research and publishing, Editor's Comment, MISQ, 24(4), pp v-vii, December, 2000
Small overview of why encouraging more design science might be a good thing.
Nicholas Balls, Solving Difficiulties Encountered by E-Commerce Practioners and Researchers: When Design Science is the correct tool for the job, 5th Annual Conference on Electronic Comerce
A summary is available
Basic thrust
- design science useful for e-commerce
- uses Whetten (1989) criteria for theoretical contributions to show how design science could provide this
- this includes criteria for contribution of theory
- AND what makes research publishable
- then draws a fairly long bow how design science can produce artifacts for business implementation, application design and aiding research...not important this bit
- talks about the limitations of design science basically
- technology is perishable, so the problem is more important than the technology
- difficulty of building means theory must be more important than the artifact
Yoris Au, The Role of Design Science in E-Commerce Research, 5th Annual conference on Electronic Commerce, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, March 26-27, 2001
A summary is available
A thesis (?Phd) that includes/uses design science and an extension.
Zheying Zhang, Component-based Reuse in a MetaCASE Environment,
Another thesis, by a student of Lyttinen, using a systems development approach. Some useful quotes on information systems development and associated stuff.
A collection of articles found on the web about constructive research which is another term for design science.
Salvatore March, Gerald Smith, Design and natural science research on information technology, Decision Support Systems, 15, 1995: p251-266
Abstract
Research in IT must address the design tasks faced by practiioners. Real problems must be properly coneputalised an drepresented, appropriate techniques for their solution must be constructed, and solutions must be implmented and evaluated using apporpriate critieria. If significant progress is to be made, IT resarch must also develop an understanding of how and why IT systems work or do not work. Such an understanding must tie together natural laws governing IT systems with natural laws governing the environments in which they operate. This paper presents a two dimensional framework for research in information technoloyg. The first dimenion is based on broad types of design and natural science research activities: build, evaluate, theorize, and justify. The second dimension is based on broad types of outputs produced by design research: represntational constructs, models, methods and instantiations. We argue that both design science and natural science activities are needed to insure that IT research is both relevant and effective.
Matti Ross, Design and improvement research PDF version of powerpoint presentation, some good stuff in ways of quotes. Mainly pointing to stuff already known
Nicholas Ball, Design Science II: The Impact of Design Science on E-Commerce Research and Practice, Communications of the AIS, Volume 7, July 2001.
Abstract
With the promises of e-commerce come problems and opportunities for researchers and practitioners. One of these opportunities is taking a design science approach to e-commerce research. The argument is made that design science makes a contribution of theory in business school research. Contributions of design science to the research and practice of e-commerce are categorized into artifacts that aid e-commerce practitioners, artifacts that aid e-commerce researchers, and theories related to these artifacts. However, the design science approach introduces limitations such as the perishability of design science artifacts, and the time it takes to develop an artifact to the point where it is useful for practice.
A summary is available.
Julie David, Gregory Gerard, William McCarthy, Design Science: Building the Future of AIS, SMAP 2000, Philadelphia, August, 2000, http://webdev.cob.asu.edu/fac/jsmithdavid/smap00/ referenced 5th June 2002.
Abstract
This chapter argues that design science is a crucial aspect of accounting information system (AIS) research. Unlike positive research that examines the current state of practice to understand it better, design science strives to identify the means to improve upon it. Thus, researchers using this methodology often "build" new systems to evaluate whether their prescriptions are feasible and to gain deeper insights into the problem being investigated. This type of research is widely accepted in colleges of engineering, and we believe accountants can learn much for our engineering and computer science colleagues.
Although design science has not been widely used in accounting research during the past twenty years, there are some domains that have been enriched by this methodology, such as database accounting systems, expert systems, and object-oriented systems. Because we are most familiar with the database accounting systems work, specifically the Resources-Events-Agents (REA) paradigm, we will use this body of literature to illustrate design science topics.
In the three main sections of the chapter we (1) provide a context for understanding design science, (2) take a historical perspective and highlight significant REA design papers and implications, and (3) propose future research directions in REA design science. We will summarize our findings in the conclusion.
A summary is available.
Yoris A. Au, Design Science I: the role of design science in E-Commerce Research, Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 7(1), July 2001.
Abstract
The fast-paced development of e-commerce caused many people in business to overlook key aspects of the relevant design principles for e-commerce systems. E-commerce applications that are currently being implemented and used are not necessarily the best and the most efficient that people can design and build. The result is an opportunity for e-commerce design science researchers to make significant contributions and for business schools to create and maintain a strong e-commerce design science group of researchers. However, fulfilling this need is often difficult for business schools because resources and design science researchers are both scarce. Partnering with the computer science school within the same university to set up an e-commerce research center that focuses on design science research may be a feasible alternative.
A summary is available.
Arpan Jani, IS Research Relevance: A perspective from the design science and the philosophy of technology, Proceedings of the 7th Amercias Conference on Information Systems, pp 2006-???, 2001
Abstract
In recent times the relevance of IS research to practice has been identified as an important issue. IS research has been criticized for a lack of cumulative tradition and proliferation of research themes that do not build upon each other. The problem of fragmentation also leads to the problem of relevance as unless a cumulative body of knowledge is built it cannot be applied in practice. We propose that a unified approach that combines both design science and natural science perspectives would bring greater relevance to IS research. Moreover, we emphasize the need to draw upon philosophy of technology to gain insights into the nature of Information Technology so that inquiry in IS research can be focused more upon the fundamental aspect of Information Technology rather than the latest technology considered to be hot. If the inquiry in IS is focused more upon new technologies in its specific aspects, it is difficult to build cumulative knowledge and in that way, IS research would always lag behind the practice.
A summary is available
R.B. Frost, Why Does Industry Ignore Design Science?, Journal of Engingeering Design, 10(4), 1999
Summary
Reasons are advanced for the apparent lack of use by designers in industry of the design methods provided by Design Science. Suggestions for the alleviation of this situation are advanced.
Seems to be an experienced engineer talking. A link into the sort of design science experience from engineering.
Jay Nunamaker, Minder Chen, Titus Purdin, Systems Development in Information Systems Research, Journal of Management Information Systems, Winter 1990-91, 7(3), pp89-106
Abstract
In this paper, the use of systems development as a methodology in information systems research is described and defneded. A framework to explain the nature of systems development as a research metholdolgy in IS research is proposed. Use of this methodology in the engineering field in general is compared with its use specifically in computer science and computer engineering. An integrated program for conducting IS research that incroporates theory building, systems development, experimentation, and observation is proposed. Progress in several aplication domains is reviewed to provide a basis upon which to argue that systems development is a valid research methdology. A systems developoment research process is presented from a methdologcial perspective. Software engineering, which is the basic method of applying the systems development research methodology, is then discussed. It is the authors' belief that systems development and other research methdologies are complementary and that an integrated multi-dimensional and multimethodological approach will generate fruitful IS research results. The premise is that research contributions can result from systems development, experimentation, observation and performatnce testing of the systems under development and that all of these research approaches are needed to investigate different aspects of the research question.
A summary is available.
Marc Ginsburg, Annotate: A Web-based Knowledge Management Support System for Document Collections
Background
This is a thesis about a CSCW/Web based-tool for making annotations on documents. It includes a section "Systems Development as Research" which talks about the Nunamaker paper.
A summary is available.
Harri Lanning, Planning and Implementing Change in Organisations - A Construct for Managing Change Projects
background
PhD thesis which sections on research method covering constructive research
Craig Parker, John Liman, Paula Swatman, TRECS: Developing a Web-based e-Commerce Business Simulation, Proceedings of CollECTeR'98, 2nd Annual CollECTeR Conference on Electronic Commerce, Sydney, NSW
Abstract
A challenge for e-Commerce educators is the development of teaching tools and environments which provide tertiary students and business people with practically-based opportunities for learning about the business potential of e-Commerce. Business simulation approaches to e-Commerce education are a particularly effective way in which to provide students with these pedagogic opportunities. What is less certain, however, is how computerised systems can be used to improve the effectiveness and ease of operation of these e-Commerce business simulations.
This paper provides an overview of an e-Commerce business simulation called TRECS (Teaching Realistic Electronic Commerce Solutions). It then discusses the results of an investigation into the way in which a Business Simulation Management System (BSMS) and a Student Business Application (SBA) can improve the ability of TRECS facilitators to coordinate and use this simulation environment. The paper then describes preliminary results concerning the development of a Web-based version of TRECS, which incorporates the features of the Windows-based BSMS and SBA systems.
Background
Has some quotes about the Systems Development research method and refers to a paper by Parker et al (1994).
Parker, C.M., E.N. Wafula, P.M.C. Swatman and P.A. Swatman (1994) Information Systems Research Methods: The Technology Transfer Problem 5th Australian Conference on Information Systems, Melbourne, Victoria, 197-208.
Juhani Iivari, Information Systems Science as Design Science
Background
Lecture slides to a post-grad course about IS as a design science.
A summary is available
Frada Burstein, Shirley Gregor, The Systems Development or Engineering Approach to Research in Information Systems: An Action Research Perspective, ..ACIS'1999
Abstract
This paper is concerned with a type of information systems research that is comparatively poorly understood the systems development (SD) or engineering approach. SD is seen as a natural intermediate step linking basic and applied research and as a form of action research. It is argued that we can learn from the view of SD research as action research and thus develop useful criteria for the conduct and evaluation of SD research. An illustration is given of the application of these criteria to an example of SD research in information systems. This illustration demonstrates the importance of recognizing the SD approach and relevant criteria for guiding and evaluating the validity and worth of such work.
Summary is available
Allen S. Lee, Systems Thinking, Design Science and Paradigms: Heeding Three Lessons from the Past to Resolve Three Dilemmas in the Present to Direct a Trajectory for Future Research in the Information Systems Field, Keynote address at the 11th National Conference on Information Management, Kaohsiung, Taiwan: May 20, 2000. http://www.people.vcu.edu/~aslee/ICIM-keynote-2000/ICIM-keynote-2000.htm
A summary is available.
Eija Koskivaara, Approaches for Designing and Developing ANN Systems, Information Systems Foundations: Building the Theoretical Base Workshop, 1-2 October, 2002, Canberra
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to outline a new research approach for developing artificial neural networks (ANNs). We argue that the approaches of information systems design and development give a too stable picture of building and assessing of ANN systems. These results are based on our experience in designing several ANN systems.
M. Lynne Markus, Ann Majchrzak, Les Gasser, A design theory for systems that support emergent knowledge processes, MISQ, 26(3), pp 179-212, September, 2002
Abstract
This paper addresses the design problem of providing IT support for emerging knowledge pro- cesses (EKPs). EKPs are organizational activity patterns that exhibit three characteristics in com- bination: an emergent process of deliberations with no best structure or sequence; requirements for knowledge that are complex (both general and situational), distributed across people, and evolving dynamically; and an actor set that is unpredictable in terms of job roles or prior knowl- edge. Examples of EKPs include basic research, new product development, strategic business planning, and organization design. EKPs differ qualitatively from semi-structured decision making processes; therefore, they have unique require- ments that are not all thoroughly supported by familiar classes of systems, such as executive information systems, expert systems, electronic communication systems, organizational memory systems, or repositories. Further, the develop- ment literature on familiar classes of systems does not provide adequate guidance on how to build systems that support EKPs. Consequently, EKPs require a new IS design theory, as explicated by Walls et al. (1992).
We created such a theory while designing and deploying a system for the EKP of organization design. The system was demonstrated through subsequent empirical analysis to be successful in supporting the process. Abstracting from the experience of building this system, we developed an IS design theory for EKP support systems. This new IS design theory is an important theo- retical contribution, because it both provides guidance to developers and sets an agenda for academic research. EKP design theory makes the development process more tractable for developers by restricting the range of effective features (or rules for selecting features) and the range of effective development practices to a more manageable set. EKP design theory also sets an agenda for academic research by arti- culating theory-based principles that are subject to empirical, as well as practical, validation.
A summary is available.
Joseph Walls, George Widmeyer, Omar El Sawy, Building an Information Systems Design Theory for Vigilant EIS, Information Systems Research, 3(1)
A summary is available.
Shirley Gregor, Design Theory in Information Systems
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to explore an important category of information systems knowledge that is termed design theory . This knowledge is distinguished as the fifth of five types of theory: (i) theory for analysing and describing, (ii) theory for understanding, (iii) theory for predicting, (iv) theory for explaining and predicting, and (v) theory for design and action. Examples of design theory in information systems are provided, with associated research methods. The limited understanding and recognition of this type of theory in information systems indicates that further debate concerning its nature and role in our discipline is needed.
Shirley Gregor, A theory of theories in Information Systems
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to explore what is meant by theory in Information Systems. Different conceptions of causality are discussed, as they are seen as key to understanding different types of theory. Five different types of theory are distinguished: (i) theory for analysing and describing, (ii) theory for understanding, (iii) theory for predicting, (iv) theory for explaining and predicting, and (v) theory for design and action. Illustrations of relevant work in Information Systems are provided, as are relevant research methods, and the form of contributions to knowledge in each. The limited discussion of the nature of theory in Information Systems indicates that further work is needed, particularly with respect to theory for design and action.
Mumtaz Kutty, Organization Theory Support System: A Conceptual Approach to Organizational Theory Frameworks
PhD thesis which uses ISDT as a partial basis for the development of a tool to support the "management" of theories about organizations.
Jan Plass, Mark Salisbury, A living-systems design model for Web-based knowledge management systems, Educational Technology, Research and Development, 50(1), 35-57
Abstract
Most of the currently available instructional design models were conceptualized to develop instructional solutions to needs and requirements that remain relatively stable over time. Faced with the problem of designing a knowledge management (KM) system that needed to accommodate continuously changing requirements over its fielded lifetime, we developed a new deisgn model that is based on a living-systems approach. In this article, we briefly review currently available instructional systems design models and describe this new model and the mechanisms it contains for accommodating change and growth. We illustrate the application of the phases of the model (analyze initial requirements, design the information architecture, develop the information design, develop the interaction design, implement the Web-based system, and conduct a developmental evaluation of the system) in the development of a KM system with living-system features
A summary is available.
Kenneth Walsh, Michael Dickey, Structured Modeling Group Support Systems: A Product Design Theory, under review
Abstract
Structured modeling is critical to the design, development, and implementation of many systems including computer software, business processes, and data networks. Since the creation of structured models relies on the knowledge of many organizational stakeholders, groups often accomplish this task. This paper illustrates how groups develop models, and shows how group support systems (GSS) can facilitate the collaborative process of structured modeling. Despite the apparent benefits of GSS to the structured modeling process, GSS do not typically provide task support for the development of structured models. This study develops a product design theory for structured modeling group support systems.
Johan Redstrom, Towards a design philosopy for everyday computational things
Juhani Iivari, Towards Information Systems as a Science of Meta-Artifacts, Communications of the AIS, 12, 568-581
Abstract
The paper argues that we should emphasize more the nature of Information Systems as an applied, engineering-like discipline that develops various ”meta-artifacts” to support the development of IS artifacts. Building such meta-artifacts is a complementary approach to the ”theorywith- practical-implications” type of research. The primacy assigned to theory and research method has effectively excluded constructive research of building meta-artifacts from the major IS journals. The paper also claims that information systems as a category of IT artifacts, and especially the focus on IS development, can help to distinguish the IS discipline from its sister and reference disciplines.
A summary is available
Ron Weber, Still Desperately Seeking the IT artifact, MIS Quarterly, 27(2), pp iii-xi, June 2003
Carl Adams, David Avison, Dangers inherent in the use of techniques: identifying the framing influences, Information technology & people, 16(2), pp 203-234
Abstract
The literature about the development of information systems tends to concentrate on methodologies, techniques and tools. There is signi®cant published research about the potential negative aspects of using methodologies and tools (along with that discussing their potential bene®ts). Techniques, on the other hand, are seen largely as benign, very often as simple aids to help carry out a task, and are used in many methodologies. They might be seen as supporting the collection, collation, analysis, representation or communication of information about system requirements and attributes (or a combination of these). However, it is argued in this paper that techniques also have negative aspects and there are as many dangers in their use as in using methodologies and tools. In particular, techniques may restrict understanding by framing the ways of thinking about the problem situation. In other words, people’s understanding of a problem can be profoundly in¯uenced by how the problem is presented to them by the technique. Different development techniques can represent the same problem situation differently, and the way in which it is represented has considerable potential for in¯uencing problem understanding and resultant decision making. Drawing on the cognitive psychology literature enables one to show how speci®c visual and linguistic characteristics of techniques may in¯uence problem understanding. In addition, examining the taken-for-granted paradigm of a particular technique provides a further dimension in¯uencing problem understanding. This knowledge of visual/language and paradigm attributes is applied to over 80 techniques used to a greater or lesser extent in IS development, indicating how different types of technique are likely to in¯uence problem cognition. This serves two purposes. First, it exposes potential biases of a particular technique and makes users aware of the potential dangers. Second, the overall categorization may provide guidance to users in selecting appropriate techniques and combinations of techniques to help reduce any negative framing in¯uences, provide a more holistic view of a problem situation and support a more appropriate problem-learning environment.
Wanda Orlikowski, C. Suzanne Iacono, Research Commentary: desperately seeking the "IT" in IT research - a call to theorizing the IT artifact, Information Systems Research, June 2001, 12(2), pp 121-
Abstract
The field of information systems is premised on the centrality of information technology in everyday socio-economic life. Yet, drawing on a review of the full set of articles published in Information Systems Research (ISR) over the past ten years, we argue that the field has not deeply engaged its core subject matter--the information technology (IT) artifact. Instead, we find that IS researchers tend to give central theoretical significance to the context (within which some usually unspecified technology is seen to operate), the discrete processing capabilities of the artifact (as separable from its context or use), or the dependent variable (that which is posited to be affected or changed as technology is developed, implemented, and used). The IT artifact itself tends to disappear from view, be taken for granted, or is presumed to be unproblematic once it is built and installed. After discussing the implications of our findings, we propose a research direction for the IS field that begins to take technology as seriously as its effects, context, and capabilities. In particular, we propose that IS researchers begin to theorize specifically about IT artifacts, and then incorporate these theories explicitly into their studies. We believe that such a research direction is critical if IS research is to make a significant contribution to the understanding of a world increasingly suffused with ubiquitous, interdependent, and emergent information technologies.
A summary is available.
Goran Goldkuhl, Anchoring scientific abstractions - ontological and linguistic determination following socio-instrumental pragmatism Proceedings of the European Conference on Research Methods in Business and Management
Abstract
The paper addresses the problems of scientific conceptualisation in order to avoid diffuse abstractedness. It proposes the use of an ontology consisting of the following categories: 1) humans, 2) human inner worlds which consist of 2a) intrasubjective parts and 2b) intersubjective parts (shared knowledge and social institutions), 3) human actions, 4) symbolic objects (signs), 5) artefacts (artificially made material objects) and 6) natural environment. This approach also includes a reflective way of using language. Words and corresponding language games are investigated in order to clarify the scientific concepts.
Alan Hevner, Salvatore March, Jinsoo Park, Sudha Ram, Design Science in Information Systems Research, MIS Quarterly, to appear March 2004
Abstract
Two paradigms characterize much of the research in the Information Systems discipline: behavioral science and design science. The behavioral-science paradigm seeks to develop and verify theories that explain or predict human or organizational behavior. The design-science paradigm seeks to extend the boundaries of human and organizational capabilities by creating new and innovative artifacts. Both paradigms are foundational to the IS discipline, positioned as it is at the confluence of people, organizations, and technology. Our objective is to describe the performance of design-science research in Information Systems via a concise conceptual framework and clear guidelines for understanding, executing, and evaluating the research. In the design- science paradigm knowledge and understanding of a problem domain and its solution are achieved in the building and application of the designed artifact. Three recent exemplars in the research literature are used to demonstrate the application of these guidelines. We conclude with an analysis o f the challenges of performing high-quality design-science research in the context of the broader IS community.
A summary is available.
Alan Hevner, Salvatore March, The Information Systems Research Cycle, IEEE Computer, November 2003, pp 111-113
A short overview/synopsis of some of the larger MISQ article.
Terence Love, Theoretical Perspectives, Design Researcn and the PhD Thesis
Abstract
This paper describes the roles of ontology, epistemology, methodology and theory as they relate to the theoretical perspectives that underpin design research. The paper concludes with a description of how clarification of the above aspects of theoretical perspective assists in improving the quality of research, and contributes to simplifying the writing of successful postgraduate theses.
John Carroll, Wendy Kellogg, Artifact as theory-nexus: Hermeneutics meets theory-based design, Proceedings of CHI'89, 1989, pp 7-14
Abstract
We suggest that HCI designs characteristically embody multiple, distinct psychological claims, that virtually every aspect of a system's usability is overdetermined by independent psychological rationales inheren in its design. These myriad claims cohere in being implemetned together in a running system. Thus, HCI artifacts themselves are perhaps the most effective medium for theory developmen tin HCI. We advance a framework for articulating the psychological claims embodied by artifacts. This proposal reconciles the contrasting perspectives of theory-based design and hermeneutics, and clarifies the apparent paradox of HCI application leading HCI theory
Richard Boland, Design in the Punctuation of Management Action, Workshop on Managing as Designing
A summary is available.
Bo Carlsson, Public Policy as a Form of Design, Management Design Workshop
Some good stuff about emergence and the requirements for innovation etc in a complex world. Good views of innovation
Les Gasser, Chance, Encounter, Design and Community Knowledge, Frontiers of Management Workshop
Introduction
This short paper is a first attempt to articulate a couple of hunches. The hunches are these: First, there is an interesting relationship between randomness, and knowledge and action, especially collective, social kinds of knowledge and action. Second, managing and designing collective, social knowledge processes is fundamentally about dealing with randomness, in the sense of non-compressibility of knowledge and action (see below). If these hunches play out, I think it will mean this. As we come to manage ever-more dynamic and complex processes with ever-more sophisticated tools for organizing information and activity, we will have to move away from traditional future-oriented, specification-oriented, goal-oriented design and management practices. We will be shifted into this transformation because the basic assumptions of future-oriented, specification-oriented, goal-oriented design are untenable in a theoretical sense.
I'll illustrate these concepts with some more abstract discussions that range from music to ethnomethodology, and with some early findings from empirical studies of problem handling, artifact 'design', and collective knowledge representation in open-source software communities.
Alan Hevner, Salvatore March, Editoral Statement: Information Technology and Systems (ITS) Department, Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 13, 2003, 108-110
Abstract
This paper introduces the Information Technology and Systems (ITS) Department of CAIS. The department focuses on articles in design science. The goal of design-science research is the development and evaluation of technologies that extend the boundaries of human and organizational information-processing capabilities. Research must demonstrate the utility of such technologies to address problems or tasks not previously thought to be amenable to IT support. The article presents the objectives, concepts, and publication procedures for the ITS Department.
The business model ontology - a proposition in a design science approach
A PhD in design science - follows an almost straight March and Smith approach
Shirley Gregor, David Jones, The Formulation of design theories for information systems,
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to examine how Information Systems Design Theories (ISDTs) can be formulated. Drawing primarily on work by Heidegger (1993) and Simon (1996), it is proposed that the formulation of a design theory for information system artifacts should recognize six aspects of the design: the purpose, the form or shape, the material components, the means (development process), the underlying microtheories and the entailments of the design (insofar as these can be anticipated). A number of problems remain and further work is suggested.
Lascelles Adams, James Courtney, Achieving Relevance in IS research via the DAGS Framework, Proceedings of the 37th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences
Abstract
IS research should be both theoretically based and relevant to practice. We challenge the information systems community to develop and utilize new research methods and paradigms that will help us improve not only IS theories, but also the contribution of IS research to business practice. To accomplish this dual goal of contributing to both theory and practice, which can at least in part be realized by more emphasis on the use of engineering and architecture as reference disciplines, we propose a new framework, the DAGS framework, which advocates the use of design science (D), action research (A), grounded theory (G), and systems development (S) in combination – a multimethodological approach – as research methodologies.
A summary is available.
Dawn Gregg, Uday Kulkarni, Ajay Vinze, Understanding the philosophical underpinnings of software engineering research in information systems, Information Systems Frontiers, 3(2), 169-183, 2001
Abstract
The Information Systems (IS) discipline, and related research, focuses on the development, understanding, and use of technology to meet business needs. Technology, in particular “software,” is the basis for IS research, making software engineering a critical component of research in the IS domain. While the importance of software development is well accepted, what constitutes high quality software engineering research is not well defined. Perhaps this is because some software development clearly is not research and it is hard to distinguish between pure application development, and systems development that pushes the boundaries of knowledge. Sir Karl Popper argued that the scientific quality of research is not based on its empirical method, but on the nature of the questions asked. Our research suggests that software engineering can meet Popper’s criteria for scientific research.
Drawing on well-established research philosophies, we propose a software engineering research methodology (SERM) and discuss the utility of this methodology for contributing to and expanding the IS body of knowledge.We also describe the considerations that need to be addressed by SERM to enhance acceptability of software engineering research in IS. Our suggestions are corroborated with a reviewof current IS software engineering research reported in leading IS journals.
A summary is available.
Charles Reiguluth, Theodore Frick, Formative Research: A methodology for creating and improving design theories, in C M Reigeuluth (Ed), Instructional-Design Theories and Models: A New Paradigm of Instructional Theory (Vol II), Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associations
Pertti Jarvinen, A "significant improvement" of March and Smith's Taxonomy of Research Methods
Abstract
In the information systems fields plurality of research methods are recommended. All kinds of combinations are, however not suitable nor valid. March and Smith (1995) recently proposed a novel classification of research methods. Instead of its great merits, for example differentiation between design science and natural science, we would here like to supplement it with some important amendments like mathematical approaches, theoretical studies and the dissensus and consensus views.
Philip Agre, Hierarchy and history in Simon's "Architecture of Complexity", Journal of Learning Sciences, 12(3), 2003
Joen van Aken, Management research based on the paradigm of the design sciences: The quest for field-tested and grounded technological rules, Journal of Management Studies, 41(2), March 2004, 219-246
A summary is available.
Abstract
Academic management research has a serious utilization problem. In this field mainstream research tends to be description-driven, based on the paradigm of the ‘explanatory sciences’, like physics and sociology, and resulting in what may be called Organization Theory. This article argues that the relevance problem can be mitigated if such research were to be complemented with prescription-driven research, based on the paradigm of the ‘design sciences’, like Medicine and Engineering, and resulting in what may be called Management Theory. The typical research products in Management Theory would be ‘field-tested and grounded technological rules’. The nature of such rules is discussed as well as the research strategies producing them.
Joseph Walls, George Widmeyer, Omar El Sawy, Assessing information system design theory in perspective: How useful was our 1992 initial rendition, Journal of Information Technology Theory and Application (JITTA), 6:2, 2004, 43-58
Abstract
More than a decade has passed since the publication of the first article on building information systems design theories (ISDT) that appeared in Information Systems Research (Walls, Widmeyer, and El Sawy, 1992). Using the context of designing vigilant executive information systems, it articulated how to construct and test an ISDT that could prescriptively guide the design of a particular class of information system. The paper argued that successful construction of ISDTs would create an endogenous base for theory in the IS discipline, and could be used by scholars to prescribe design products and processes for different classes of information systems as they emerged. This paper reviews ISDT and assesses how it has been used by IS scholars since that 1992 publication. It attempts to determine how useful the Walls et. al.
ISDT has been in guiding design and helping theoretical development. The paper assesses the extent and practicality of its use as a theory building framework, and draws on samples of the various IS scholars have taken advantage of it in 26 papers to-date. The paper diagnoses the reasons for the limited use of ISDT and makes recommendations for enhancing its usability and adoption in the IS research community.
Judy McKay, Peter Marshall, A review of design science in information systems, 16th Australasian Conference on Information Systems
Abstract
This paper gives an appraisal of recent writings on design science in the information systems discipline. The authors believe that the new emphasis on design could be an insightful way to look at the discipline as long as the focus and emphasis of design science is broadened from a technical software engineering perspective to include and embrace the necessary social and organizational considerations. In addition, some potential confusions that surface in the recent design science publications are discussed, including conflating design activity with research. We argue that a reappraisal of some issues of concern may be required to ensure that design science fulfills its promise of building knowledge of design and improving practice in information systems.
John Venable, The role of theory and theorising in design science research, DESRIST'2006, pp 1-18
A summary is available.
Abstract
The literature on Design Science (or Design Research) has been mixed on the inclusion, form, and role of theory and theorising in Design Science. Some authors have explicitly excluded theory development and testing from Design Science, leaving them to the Natural and Social/Behavioural Sciences. Others propose including theory development and testing as part of Design Science. Others propose some ideas for the content of IS Design Theories, although more detailed and clear concepts would be helpful. This paper discusses the need and role for theory in Design Science. It further proposes some ideas for standards for the form and level of detail needed for theories in Design Science. Finally it develops a framework of activities for the interaction of Design Science with research in other scientific paradigms.
R Cole, S. Purao, M Rossi, M Sein, Being proactive: Where action research meets design research, ICIS'2005
A summary is available.
Abstract
Information systems research has been criticized for having little influence on practice. One approach to achieving more relevance is to conduct research using appropriate research methods that balance the interests of both researchers and practitioners. This paper examines the similarities between two methods that address this mandate by adopting a proactive stance to investigating information systems in organizations. These two approaches, action research and design research, both directly intervene in real-world domains and effect changes in these domains. We investigate these similarities by examining exemplars of each type of research according to the criteria of the other. Our analysis reveals interesting parallels and similarities between the two, suggesting that the two approaches have much to learn from each other. Based on our analysis, we propose ways to facilitate cross-fertilization between the two approaches that we believe will be useful for both and for IS research in general.