The formulation of design theories for information systems (original) (raw)
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Design Theory in Information Systems
2002
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.
An exploration of the concept of design in information systems
Information Systems Foundations: The Role of Design Science, 2010
This chapter explores the concepts of design and design science in a number of disciplines, including information systems (IS). The authors identify and explore various viewpoints or perspectives on design in a number of disciplines including management, engineering, architecture and product development. These perspectives include design as product, design as process or action, design as intention, design as planning including modelling, representation and method, design as communication, design as user experience, design as a value, design as professional practice and design as service. This broad and diverse set of perspectives is contrasted with what is identified and characterised by the authors as a limiting technological perspective of design adopted by the current extant papers in the mainstream IS journals. The chapter concludes with a call to broaden and further develop the concept of design, and hence design science, into an integrated holistic socio-technical view that includes the human social and organisational factors alongside the technical factors.
The range and role of theory in information systems design research: From concepts to construction
2010
This paper reports results from a field study of cross-disciplinary design researchers in information systems, software engineering, human-computer interaction, and computer-supported cooperative work. The purpose of the study was to explore how these different disciplines conceptualize and conduct design-as-research. The focus in this paper is on how theories are used in a design research project to motivate and inform the particulars of designed artifacts and design methods. Our objective was to better understand how elements of a theory are translated into design action, and how theoretical propositions are translated and then realized in designed artifacts. The results reveal a broad diversity in the processes through which theories are translated into working artifacts. The paper contributes to our understanding of design research in information systems by providing empirical support for existing constructs and frameworks, identifying some new approaches to translating theoretical concepts into research designs, and suggesting ways in which action and artifact-oriented research can more effectively contribute to a cumulative and progressive science of design.
The Design Construct in Information Systems Design Science
Journal of Information Technology, 2012
This paper arose from concerns regarding the current conceptualizations of ‘design’ in the emerging literature on design science (DS) in information systems (IS). In this paper, we argue that current conceptualizations of design in IS are overly narrow, which necessarily limits what is viewed as acceptable DS research. In response we advance a more encompassing view of design. The revised view extends the current perspectives of design in the IS literature to embrace broader conceptualizations of design, which are evident in many intellectual communities outside IS where design is viewed as a critical component of both research and practice - such as management, engineering, architecture and others. In addition to the fairly common conceptualizations of design as product and design as process or action, design is also conceived as: intention; planning - including modeling and representation; communication; user experience; value; professional practice; and as service. Further, where...
A paradigmatic analysis of Information Systems as a design science
The present essay discusses the ontology, epistemology, methodology and ethics of design science. It suggests that Information Systems as a design science should be based on a sound ontology, including an ontology of IT artifacts. In the case of epistemology, the essay emphasizes the irre-ducibility of the prescriptive knowledge of IT artifacts to theoretical descriptive knowledge. It also expresses a need for constructive research methods, which allow disciplined, rigorous and transparent building of IT artifacts as outcomes of design science research. The relationship between action research and design science research is also briefly discussed. In the case of ethics, the essay points out that Information Systems as design science cannot be value-free.
DESIGN SCIENCE IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH 1
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 founda-tional 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 arti-fact. Three recent exemplars in the research literature are used to demonstrate the application
A review of design science in information systems
Australasian Conference on …, 2005
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 ...
Paradigms Of Information System Design
The paper presents a review of design theories, derived from CIS, HCI, CSCW, and Organizational Science literatures. It is argued that newer models of design address the deficiencies of current models of design, that focus on design closure. The focus on closure de-legitimizes the essential activities of investigating, negotiating and formulating requirements for an effective design. IS design faces five "problems" that need to be resolved: (i) employing an effective model of design by with which to manage the labor process, (ii) defining the role of the information system, (iii) bounding the organizational locus of the system problem, (iv) understanding the cultural, social and business context of which the IS will be a part, and (v) managing collaboration between cross-functional stakeholders.
2007
This paper examines the fundamental nature of science, design, hence design science and design research, with a view to determining a conceptualisation of design science that is useful in the discipline of information systems (IS). After reviewing several notions of design, the paper recommends a conceptualisation that involves a broad practice-based view of design, an inclusive conceptualisation of design science, and a diverse and multi-paradigmatic approach to design research. The paper recommends that the design task in IS be conceived as one that includes rather than strips away the social and organizational context of the IT artifact, and this impacts the breadth of topics embraced by design science, and the types of methods employed to further enquiry in the field.
Information Systems Foundations Part Three : The Role of Design Science
2010
In this chapter, we challenge the received view of design research in light of an information services view. We argue that, in relation to the work of Orlikowski and Iacono, an information services view describes a unique class of information systems (IS), in which users are able to identify, interact and innovate with information service systems. To better support this phenomenon, we propose a phenomenological approach to better understand participant interaction and redesign of recombinant services in the secondary design phase. We suggest four design metaphors that will shape our perception and design approach to this emerging class of cognitive-technical systems.