Design Science Research Methodology As a Solution-Oriented Methodology

Design science has recently been considered as a research methodology that differs methodologically and philosophically from conventional methodologies. This methodology goes beyond descriptive-explanative researches and takes steps to solve problems. Though this methodology uses the research qualitative and quantitative instruments in the process of data-gathering and data-analyzing, the aim of the research is not to provide a mere description or explanation of problems or phenomena but to solve a social-technical problem through designing an artefact, model, procedure, and so on. Despite the importance of this methodology in areas such as management, information technology management, policy-making, and some other areas in social science, little attention has been given to it in Iran. That is why, lacking a solution-oriented attitude, almost all the published research papers in the field of social science concentrates on the description or explanation of problems or phenomena. In this article, while introducing and analyzing design science as a research methodology, exploring its philosophical foundations, and presenting the common frameworks in this field, we will examine its application in Ira

Designing Strategic Auditing Model of Human Resource Development in National Iranian Oil Company

Human resource Development (HRD) in each organization is the cause of durability and competitive advantages, so the top management of organizations faces two options: changing its own human resource as a resource with value-added capability, or to benefit from outsourcing strategy. Training and development department in National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) is accountable for the development of human capital throughout planning of the staff affairs, job career planning, training & development, and also performance evaluating. Following this issue, the essence of comprehensive and permanent process is needed for evaluating current situation whether from the qualitative level of performance or practice of laws and advised Instructions. Regarding the special and unique conditions of this very important industry, it is emphasized on designing and applying comprehensive system full of control dimensions for comparing present condition with desired one for the human resource development Depts.; which is named auditing human resource development. Therefore, with the use of previous researches and interviews done with the NIOC HRD managers, a model with the contingent dimensions and categories for auditing three subsidiaries (training, evaluating and staff affairs planning) has been designed. The research is based on Mixed Research and at first; with the cumulative content analysis relevant dimensions and categories fitted for Auditing model are explanted. After that, for the purpose of verification of designed model and reviewing general situation, questionnaires among the HRD staff of NIOC were distributed and LISREL software was used for investigation. In conclusion, auditing outcomes were reported to the top managers and some suggestions for resolving problems and weakness points were offered to the related management