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 irreducibility 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 valuefree

An Assessment Framework to Determine the Strategic Value of IT Architectures in Smart Grids

Design Science Research (DSR) is a popular new research approach and paradigm, for which a number of research methodologies have been developed. One of the challenges facing researchers wanting to apply this new approach is the choice of research methodology. In this paper we give an account of six DSR methodologies and we compare them using a Design Science Research Methodology Comparison Framework that we adapted from an existing Information Systems Development Methodology Comparison Framework. Based on the outcomes of the comparison, we develop a set of technological rules that forms a contingency-based framework to support Design Science Researchers in choosing an appropriate and well-suited DSR methodology, depending on the contingencies of the situation at hand

Presentation of Design Science Research in Information Systems and Engineering Disciplines - Empirical Investigation of Common Structures and Differences

Design Science Research is a research paradigm suitable for application-oriented disciplines that develop (construct) artifacts as solutions to practical problems. Design Science Research is known to be a mainstream research paradigm in engineering and other disciplines. In recent years, Design Science Research (DSR) has become an established research approach in the field of Information Systems (IS). Nevertheless, there is an ongoing debate about the methodology and guidelines for Design Science Research in Information Systems (IS-DSR). This paper proposes to gather and leverage insights from other design disciplines, such as engineering, to provide clarity and inspiration for IS-DSR and to work towards a common understanding of design science research across disciplines. This paper provides results of an initial empirical analysis of research literature from engineering disciplines. The results provide suggestions for validating DSR results and contribute to the understanding of research guidelines for DSR. In addition, a novel, fine-grained, and operational framework for analyzing DSR papers and projects is presented. The third contribution is a proposal to develop a common basic schema for design science research, analogous to the standard IMRaD schema for empirical research. Based on the analysis of samples of papers, this paper proposes IDEaD as the standard scheme for Design Science Research, i.e., Introduction, Description, Evaluation, and Discussion

From engagement to alignment : exploring enterprise architecture through the lens of design science

Information Systems Design Science (ISDS) as a research community is limited by a small number of research frameworks with considerable influence. The small triad of influential ISDS research, consisting of Walls, et al (1992), March and Smith (1995), and Hevner et al (2004) have primarily limited ISDS research to the positivist paradigm and the IT artifact. In contrast, Herbert Simon’s intentions for design science never had such restrictions and intended a broader perspective. This dissertation explores Simon’s intentions for design science, the Simonian stream of thought that includes The Sciences of the Artificial, as well as much of his most notable research, and offers an ‘informed view’ of design science in the tradition of Rortyian neopragmatism. Using this new lens of design science, a Bhaskarian critical realist treatment of human artifacts is also developed. Collectively, a Rortyian neopragmatist treatment for design science, and a Bhaskarian critical realist treatment of human artifacts are used as a lens to augment the Walls et al (1992) framework for Information Systems Design Theories (ISDT). An example of how to apply this lens is accomplished in Paper 2 of the dissertation. The ISDS lens is applied to the topic of Enterprise Architecture (EA). EA as vehicle for IS Alignment is well defined in terms of frameworks, artifacts, and methodology. However little is understood with respect to the discipline and practice of EA. Seeking to advance our understanding of effective vehicles for IS alignment, this research examines EA as an alignment practice and how it attempts to realize alignment. Specifically, we address the following question: How does EA manifest itself in organizations? This research employs an interpretivist epistemology in a manner quite distinct from ISDS research and thus provides contributions to academia in terms of methodology and insight on EA, and for practitioners who wish to mature an EA practice in their organization. Some of the main concepts discovered in the empirical study in Paper 2 are used to develop a practitioner-oriented framework for EA practice in Paper 3

MIS AND THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES: Research Patterns and Prescriptions

Many of the questions of concern to information system (IS) researchers and practitioners are, in essence, behavioral questions. Behavioral considerations in the design and implementation of information systems and in the management of IS professionals are crucial to the successful development and delivery of quality services to users. Implementation of IS may provide a benefi-cial means to facilitate changes in task design, organizational structure, and social relations. Guidance for interpreting past MIS behavioral research and suggestions for future studies are provided by a proposed research framework. The importance of adopting behavioral science research standards, e.g. , theory-based- research questions and appropriate methodology, is stressed

A new decade of uses for geographic information systems (GIS) as a tool to research, measure and analyze library services

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore library research that uses geographic information systems (GIS) as a tool to evaluate library services and resources to ascertain current trends and establish future directions for this growing research area. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study searched full text for geographic information systems in two databases: Library and Information Science Source (LISS) and Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts (LISTA), replicating the method used in a prior literature review. The titles and abstracts of the search results were analyzed to gather only the research that used GIS as a tool to measure and analyze library services. Findings: This study found growth in the last decade for library research using GIS. There remain two ways the tool is primarily used: to analyze service areas and to manage facilities and collections. Practical Implications: The findings are relevant for library and information science researchers and practitioners because they summarize a specific area of research that has grown and changed and that still has potential to be used more widely. Using GIS in practice and research could benefit all library users and nonusers because spatial analysis facilitates more precise and informed delivery of services and resources. Originality/Value: The paper provides future directions for use of GIS in library research and attempts to define subdivisions within this research area to clarify the area for researchers and practitioners

An Exploratory Study Comparing the Core Concepts of Information Systems Development and Software Engineering

The goal of this study is to apply a multidisciplinary approach towards the discovery of core concepts in the art and science of design. This study advances the intellectual body of knowledge for design science by uncovering common areas of agreement between information systems (IS) and computer science (CS) encouraging the development of new design theories within each individual field. This research avoids the trap of finding “yet another methodology” by merging the two dichotomous paradigms of design-as-natural-science and design-as-human-science, and by viewing the common concepts from these approaches through various philosophical lenses. These philosophical lenses ensure that the foundations for art and science of design will be capable of explaining the laws and theories of design and not merely reproduce a set of rules and procedures

Empowering Migrant Workers and Labor NGOs in China: Creating a Law Searching Tool through a Design Science Approach

Labor NGOs in China has been utilizing various social media tools, such as WeChat for networking workers and promotion. In the year 2017 WeChat Mini Program was released, allowing developers to create “sub-application” within WeChat. This research evolves from a laws-searching WeChat Mini Program development project, which will adopt a design science approach, follow the design science research methodology (DSRM) process model, and measure the effect of the WeChat Mini Program with the concepts from information systems success model and post-adoption behaviors. We propose that the law-searching WeChat Mini Program can sever labor NGOs in terms of legal service and promotion

A Design Science Research Methodology for Expert Systems Development

The knowledge of design science research (DSR) can have applications for improving expert systems (ES) development research. Although significant progress of utilising DSR has been observed in particular information systems design – such as decision support systems (DSS) studies – only rare attempts can be found in the ES design literature. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the use of DSR for ES design. First, we explore the ES development literature to reveal the presence of DSR as a research methodology. For this, we select relevant literature criteria and apply a qualitative content analysis in order to generate themes inductively to match the DSR components. Second, utilising the findings of the comparison, we determine a new DSR approach for designing a specific ES that is guided by another result – the findings of a content analysis of examination scripts in Mathematics. The specific ES artefact for a case demonstration is designed for addressing the requirement of a ‘wicked’ problem in that the key purpose is to assist human assessors when evaluating multi-step question (MSQ) solutions. It is anticipated that the proposed design knowledge, in terms of both problem class and functions of ES artefacts, will help ES designers and researchers to address similar issues for designing information system solutions

A methodology for the evaluation of management information systems at public technical and vocational education and training colleges in South Africa

The support and promotion of public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges is fundamental in addressing South Africa’s intermediate-level and artisanal skills as shortages in these areas contribute to considerable unemployment in South Africa. These institutions have been earmarked by the South African government for extensive growth. Therefore, efficient and effective management and accurate decision-making within these institutions are essential. The evaluation of the management information systems (MISs) within these institutions, which provide data and information to inform institutional short-term and long-term management decision-making and day-to-day operations, should take place on a regular basis to so enhance the reliability and accuracy of the data and information. The problem is that no evidence of a methodology (artefact) for the evaluation of MISs at public TVET Colleges in South Africa could be found in the literature. Therefore, the rationale for this study is to develop a methodology for the evaluation of MISs at public TVET Colleges in South Africa. Hence the main research question for the study was formulated as: What are the components that constitute a methodology for the evaluation of a MIS at a public TVET College in South Africa? The study was conducted according to a design science paradigm. Design science is underpinned by a pragmatic philosophical paradigm which considers thought as a tool for prediction, problem solving and action. The Design Science Research Process (DSRP) model informed the research process utilised to develop the artefact for this problem centred initiated study. The iterated activities of the DSRP model which include: design, demonstrate, evaluate and communicate, contributed to the refinement of the methodology (artefact). The artefact mainly underwent experimental evaluation to demonstrate its applicability. The methodology (artefact) was empirically evaluated at three cluster-random selected public TVET Colleges after all colleges, with similar MIS maturity levels, were clustered into groups. The study contributed to the extant knowledge base of: theory building, on different levels. The main theoretical contribution is the final evaluated methodology (DSR artefact) which enables IT practitioners and MIS managers at public TVET Colleges in South Africa to evaluate their MISs on a regular basis. The methodology (artefact) presents a theory for design and action which satisfies the conditions of importance, parsimony and novelty on a micro-level. The study furthermore contributed to the extant literature on the theory of MIS success evaluation by contributing to theory on the measurement of MIS success constructs and measuring of the relationships between the constructs. Another theoretical contribution is the innovative evidence-based method by which the public TVET Colleges were clustered. The clustering method was used to ensure a more rigorous sample selection technique than purposive or convenient sample selection of cases and is generalisable to other knowledge domain contexts. The research study furthermore produced results of interest to both technology-focused and management-focused audiences. For technology-focused audiences the processes by which the artefact was constructed and evaluated are described, thus establishing repeatability of the study and building the knowledge base for further research extensions by future design science researchers. The rigour of the artefact design process was complemented by a thorough presentation of the experimental design of the artefact’s field test in three public TVET College environments which provides sufficient detail for management audiences to determine if sufficient organisational resources exist for utilisation of the artefact.Information SciencePh. D. (Information Systems