How software engineering research aligns with design science: A review

Background: Assessing and communicating software engineering research can be challenging. Design science is recognized as an appropriate research paradigm for applied research but is seldom referred to in software engineering. Applying the design science lens to software engineering research may improve the assessment and communication of research contributions. Aim: The aim of this study is 1) to understand whether the design science lens helps summarize and assess software engineering research contributions, and 2) to characterize different types of design science contributions in the software engineering literature. Method: In previous research, we developed a visual abstract template, summarizing the core constructs of the design science paradigm. In this study, we use this template in a review of a set of 38 top software engineering publications to extract and analyze their design science contributions. Results: We identified five clusters of papers, classifying them according to their alignment with the design science paradigm. Conclusions: The design science lens helps emphasize the theoretical contribution of research output---in terms of technological rules---and reflect on the practical relevance, novelty, and rigor of the rules proposed by the research.Comment: 32 pages, 10 figure

Design science, engineering science and requirements engineering

For several decades there has been a debate in the computing sciences about the relative roles of design and empirical research, and about the contribution of design and research methodology to the relevance of research results. In this minitutorial we review this debate and compare it with evidence about the relation between design and research in the history of science and technology. Our review shows that research and design are separate but concurrent activities, and that relevance of research results depends on problem setting rather than on rigorous methods. We argue that rigorous scientific methods separate design from research, and we give simple model for how to do this in a problem-driven way

Modeling functional requirements using tacit knowledge: a design science research methodology informed approach

The research in this paper adds to the discussion linked to the challenge of capturing and modeling tacit knowledge throughout software development projects. The issue emerged when modeling functional requirements during a project for a client. However, using the design science research methodology at a particular point in the project helped to create an artifact, a functional requirements modeling technique, that resolved the issue with tacit knowledge. Accordingly, this paper includes research based upon the stages of the design science research methodology to design and test the artifact in an observable situation, empirically grounding the research undertaken. An integral component of the design science research methodology, the knowledge base, assimilated structuration and semiotic theories so that other researchers can test the validity of the artifact created. First, structuration theory helped to identify how tacit knowledge is communicated and can be understood when modeling functional requirements for new software. Second, structuration theory prescribed the application of semiotics which facilitated the development of the artifact. Additionally, following the stages of the design science research methodology and associated tasks allows the research to be reproduced in other software development contexts. As a positive outcome, using the functional requirements modeling technique created, specifically for obtaining tacit knowledge on the software development project, indicates that using such knowledge increases the likelihood of deploying software successfully

SHAPING A CONSTRUCTIVIST VIEW OF ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN SCIENCE

The so-called rigor–relevance gap appears unbridgeable in the classical view o organization science, which is based on the physical sciences' model. Constructivist scholar have also pointed out a certain inadequacy of this model of science for organization research but they have not offered an explicit, alternative model of science. Responding to this lack, this paper brings together the two separate paradigmati perspectives of constructivist epistemologies and of organizational design science, and show how they could jointly constitute the ingredients of a constructivism-founded scientifi paradigm for organization research. Further, the paper highlights that, in this constructivis view of organizational design science, knowledge can be generated and used in ways that ar mutually enriching for academia and practice.constructivist epistemological paradigms; sciences of the artificial; design sciences;interpretive methods; rigor

Design science approach

Funding Information: This project (PrimaryCare@COVID-19: Digital Platform for Supporting Chronic Patients and COVID-19 consultations and Monitoring in Primary Care) was funded by the Funda??o para a Ci?ncia e Tecnologia (Ministry of Science of Technology, Portugal) under the Research4COVID-19 program. Funding Information: This project (PrimaryCare@COVID-19: Digital Platform for Supporting Chronic Patients and COVID-19 consultations and Monitoring in Primary Care) was funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Ministry of Science of Technology, Portugal) under the Research4COVID-19 program. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Luís Velez Lapão, Mariana Peyroteo, Melanie Maia, Jorge Seixas, João Gregório, Miguel Mira da Silva, Bruno Heleno, Jorge César Correia.Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is straining health systems and disrupting the delivery of health care services, in particular, for older adults and people with chronic conditions, who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. Objective: The aim of this project was to support primary health care provision with a digital health platform that will allow primary care physicians and nurses to remotely manage the care of patients with chronic diseases or COVID-19 infections. Methods: For the rapid design and implementation of a digital platform to support primary health care services, we followed the Design Science implementation framework: (1) problem identification and motivation, (2) definition of the objectives aligned with goal-oriented care, (3) artefact design and development based on Scrum, (4) solution demonstration, (5) evaluation, and (6) communication. Results: The digital platform was developed for the specific objectives of the project and successfully piloted in 3 primary health care centers in the Lisbon Health Region. Health professionals (n=53) were able to remotely manage their first patients safely and thoroughly, with high degrees of satisfaction. Conclusions: Although still in the first steps of implementation, its positive uptake, by both health care providers and patients, is a promising result. There were several limitations including the low number of participating health care units. Further research is planned to deploy the platform to many more primary health care centers and evaluate the impact on patient's health related outcomes.publishersversionpublishe

Which Kind of Science Is Construction Management?

It is argued that the mainstream views on the nature of construction management are insufficient, and as one consequence of this, the relevance of construction management has been questioned. As a solution to this situation, construction management is suggested to be repositioned as a design science, rather than as an explanatory science. A historical consideration reveals that design science equals to one of the sciences proposed by Aristotle, however, the suggestion of Aristotle has been forgotten. Thus, there has been a long-standing neglect of the design science, which explains the present fragmentation of this field. It is argued that this redefinition of construction management will solve several problems plaguing this discipline, including the problem of relevance

Disruptive design innovation: reflections on the relationship of design, science and art

The title of designer conveys a large number of historical, cultural, philosophical drivers and working practises that effectively range from the traditional engineer through to the individual interested in personal expression. The considerable differences originate and have evolved for a variety of reasons. The range is from capitalist necessity through to social inclusion. Today, the designer needs to have the ability to understand significant changes in technology, art and science as well as being an astute observer of human behaviour. Ultimately, the designer will need to convert ideas into objects and systems that people can understand and use. It is important to consider serendipitous design and disruptive design as it often involves risk taking and may be unpredictable in character. Disruptive design innovation can improve a design in ways that the customer or a market does not expect. The authors suggest a refreshing approach to design that is inclusive in purpose to enrich the act of designing and advocate a greater correlation between the art, sciences and design in reflecting the values, virtues and methods of working and the principles that guide the methodologies and processes which can be correlated into a coherent whole and with a clearer focus