USING ENTERPRISE INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE METHODS TO MODEL WICKED PROBLEMS IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN RESEARCH

Design Science is the process of solving ‘wicked problems’ through designing, developing, instantiating, and evaluating novel solutions (Hevner, March, Park and Ram, 2004). Wicked problems are described as agent finitude in combination with problem complexity and normative constraint (Farrell and Hooker, 2013). In Information Systems Design Science, determining that problems are ‘wicked’ differentiates Design Science research from Solutions Engineering (Winter, 2008) and is a necessary part of proving the relevance to Information Systems Design Science research (Hevner, 2007; Iivari, 2007). Problem complexity is characterised as many problem components with nested, dependent and co-dependent relationships interacting through multiple feedback and feed-forward loops. Farrell and Hooker (2013) specifically state for wicked problems “it will often be impossible to disentangle the consequences of specific actions from those of other co-occurring interactions”. This paper discusses the application of an Enterprise Information Architecture modelling technique to disentangle the wicked problem complexity for one case. It proposes that such a modelling technique can be applied to other wicked problems and can lay the foundations for proving relevancy to DSR, provide solution pathways for artefact development, and aid to substantiate those elements required to produce Design Theory

ARCHITECTING END-TO-END INFORMATION SERVICES FOR CONTINUOUS STUDENT BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT

Data capture and use is vital for the continuous improvement of both student learning and behavior management. Previous studies on data use in the education sector have highlighted a number of problems associated with data quality and its subsequent use. These include the accuracy, consistency, completeness, and timeliness of data. Engagement issues with data have centered on the interpretation and application of the knowledge that data can provide. No study to date has investigated the link between IS design and the production of quality data that captures student progression and outcomes in either the learning or behavior management environments. This study reports on the design, development, implementation and evaluation of a novel artefact facilitating quality data for one classroom based education service: behaviour management. This study, using Design Science Research methods, shows that information systems design is a major barrier to teacher adoption and use of classroom based Information Systems

A study of the work role in the context of change management practices in Catholic schools

The following paper provides insights into managing educational change through studying how wider educational change can affect individual roles, and reciprocally how role change can have an effect on wider organisational change. Specifically the results of this thesis describe what role characteristics lead to a positive work role identity, within the Catholic educational setting. This paper also provides insight on how multiple roles within a single work position can interact, thereby influencing one's overall negative or positive perceptions of this work position. This thesis used an ex-post facto research design, implementing a single questionnaire to 1250 teachers across 141 schools within the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane. Of the surveys distributed there were a total of 204 respondents, with 41.1% being male and 58.5% being female. The distributed questionnaire tested how the role dimensions of Role Ambiguity, Role Salience, and Role Overload lead to Role Conflict and also Inter-role Conflict (conflict between two roles). These various role dimensions were tested for both the respondent's primary role, and a secondary role. These roles were self determined by the respondent as the more and less important roles to them respectively. The results showed for the primary role, that Role Ambiguity, Role Overload and Role Salience is correlated to Role Conflict. This result was applicable to both the primary and secondary work role. When looking at the interaction between a primary role and a secondary role, the results indicated that a high level of Role Salience in the primary role was more likely to moderate the levels of Inter role Conflict. These results were in contradiction to previous studies that state high Role Salience in one role is more likely to lead to Inter-role Conflict in other roles. This result however was not bi-directional.;A high Secondary Role Salience did not have an effect on the conflict experienced between secondary role and other higher order roles. Future Human Resource (HR) practices within the Catholic Education settings should carefully consider how individual roles change, (particularly in the context of social outcomes for the role holder), as a result of a wider organisational change. Further considerations include ensuring clear definitions of the role change both to the role holder and the interacting social / work groups. Ensuring adequate time resources for the role is also a major consideration. The most notable outcome of this study suggests that when introducing or changing new additional roles to a work position, HR practitioners should primarily consider the salience of the primary role, before adding or changing additional work roles

Design theory for innovation of classroom-based information systems

This research used design science research methods to develop, instantiate, implement, and measure the acceptance of a novel software artefact. The primary purpose of this software artefact was to enhance data collection, improve its quality and enable its capture in classroom environments without distracting from the teaching activity. The artefact set is an iOS app, with supporting web services and technologies designed in response to teacher and pastoral care needs. System analysis and design used Enterprise Architecture methods. The novel component of the iOS app implemented proximity detection to identify the student through their iPad and automatically link to that student's data. The use of this novel software artefact and web services was trialled in a school setting, measuring user acceptance and system utility. This integrated system was shown to improve the accuracy, consistency, completeness and timeliness of captured data and the utility of the input and reporting systems