An Introduction to Design Science

Description

This book is an introductory text on design science, intended to support both graduate students and researchers in structuring, undertaking and presenting design science work. It builds on established design science methods as well as recent work on presenting design science studies and ethical principles for design science, and also offers novel instruments for visualizing the results, both in the form of process diagrams and through a canvas format. While the book does not presume any prior knowledge of design science, it provides readers with a thorough understanding of the subject and enables them to delve into much deeper detail, thanks to extensive sections on further reading. Design science in information systems and technology aims to create novel artifacts in the form of models, methods, and systems that support people in developing, using and maintaining IT solutions. This work focuses on design science as applied to information systems and technology, but it also includes examples from, and perspectives of, other fields of human practice. Chapter 1 provides an overview of design science and outlines its ties with empirical research. Chapter 2 discusses the various types and forms of knowledge that can be used and produced by design science research, while Chapter 3 presents a brief overview of common empirical research strategies and methods. Chapter 4 introduces a methodological framework for supporting researchers in doing design science research as well as in presenting their results. This framework includes five core activities, which are described in detail in Chapters 5 to 9. Chapter 10 discusses how to communicate design science results, while Chapter 11 compares the proposed methodological framework with methods for systems development and shows how they can be combined. Chapter 12 discusses how design science relates to research paradigms, in particular to positivism and interpretivism, and Chapter 13 discusses ethical issues and principles for design science research. The new Chapter 14 showcases a study on digital health consultations and illustrates the whole process in one comprehensive example. Also added to this 2nd edition are a number of sections on practical guidelines for carrying out basic design science tasks, a discussion on design thinking and its relationship to design science, and the description of artefact classifications. Eventually, both the references in each chapter and the companion web site were updated to reflect recent findings. Preface to the Second Edition Preface to the First Edition Contents 1 Introduction 1.1 People, Practices, and Problems 1.2 Artefacts as Solutions to Problems in Practices 1.3 The Context and Anatomy of Artefacts 1.3.1 Functions 1.3.2 Behaviours 1.3.3 Structures 1.3.4 Environments and Effects 1.3.5 From Structure to Function 1.4 Use Plans 1.5 Design Science: The Study of Artefacts 1.6 Design and Design Science 1.7 Medical Science and Design Science 1.8 Kinds of Design Science Contributions 1.9 Technical Artefacts and Socio-Technical Systems 1.10 How to Describe Artefacts 1.11 Summary of Chapter 1.12 Review Questions 1.13 Answers to Selected Review Questions 1.14 Further Reading References 2 Knowledge Types and Forms 2.1 Knowledge Types 2.1.1 Definitional Knowledge 2.1.2 Descriptive Knowledge 2.1.3 Explanatory Knowledge 2.1.4 Predictive Knowledge 2.1.5 Explanatory and Predictive Knowledge 2.1.6 Prescriptive Knowledge 2.2 Knowledge Forms 2.2.1 Explicit Knowledge 2.2.2 Embodied Knowledge 2.2.3 Embedded Knowledge 2.2.4 Knowledge Forms in Craft and Science 2.2.5 Knowledge Forms in Organisations 2.3 Artefact Classifications 2.3.1 A Classic Artefact Classification 2.3.2 A Function-Oriented Artefact Classification 2.3.3 A Pragmatic Artefact Classification 2.4 Theory Types 2.5 Design Principles and Design Theory 2.6 Summary of Chapter 2.7 Review Questions 2.8 Answers to Selected Review Questions 2.9 Further Reading References 3 Research Strategies and Methods 3.1 Research Strategies 3.1.1 Experiments 3.1.2 Surveys 3.1.3 Case Studies 3.1.4 Ethnography 3.1.5 Grounded Theory 3.1.6 Action Research 3.1.7 Phenomenology 3.1.8 Simulation 3.1.9 Mathematical and Logical Proof 3.2 Data Collection Methods 3.2.1 Questionnaires 3.2.2 Interviews 3.2.3 Focus Groups 3.2.4 Observations 3.2.5 Documents 3.3 Data Analysis 3.3.1 Quantitative Data Analysis 3.3.1.1 Kinds of Quantitative Data 3.3.1.2 Descriptive Statistics 3.3.1.3 Inferential Statistics 3.3.2 Qualitative Data Analysis 3.3.2.1 Content Analysis 3.3.2.2 Grounded Theory 3.3.2.3 Discourse Analysis 3.4 Relating Research Strategies and Research Methods 3.5 Summary of Chapter 3.6 Review Questions 3.7 Answers to Selected Review Questions 3.8 Further Reading References 4 A Method Framework for Design Science Research 4.1 Activities in Design Science Research 4.1.1 From Problem Explication to Evaluation 4.1.2 Temporal and Logical Ordering 4.2 Research Strategies and Research Methods in Design Science 4.3 Relating to a Knowledge Base 4.4 Focus in Design Science Research 4.5 Visualising the Method Framework 4.6 The Design Science Canvas 4.7 Action Research and Design Science 4.8 The Scientific Method and the Method Framework for Design Science Research 4.9 How to Write Research Questions and Research Goals 4.10 Summary of Chapter 4.11 Review Questions 4.12 Answers to Selected Review Questions 4.13 Further Reading References 5 Explicate Problem 5.1 Sub-activities of Explicate Problem 5.1.1 Define Precisely 5.1.2 Position and Justify 5.1.3 Find Root Causes 5.2 Resources for Explicate Problem 5.3 Strategies and Methods for Explicate Problem 5.4 Guidelines for Explicate Problem 5.5 Summary of Chapter 5.6 Review Questions 5.7 Answers to Selected Review Questions 5.8 Further Reading References 6 Define Requirements 6.1 Sub-activities of Define Requirements 6.1.1 Outline Artefact 6.1.2 Elicit Requirements 6.2 Resources for Define Requirements 6.3 Research Strategies and Methods for Define Requirements 6.4 Guidelines for Define Requirements 6.5 Generic Requirements and Artefact Qualities 6.5.1 Structural Qualities 6.5.2 Environmental Qualities 6.6 The 5Es Framework 6.7 How to Write Requirements 6.8 Summary of Chapter 6.9 Review Questions 6.10 Answers to Selected Review Questions 6.11 Further Reading References 7 Design and Develop Artefact 7.1 Sub-activities of Design and Develop Artefact 7.1.1 Imagine and Brainstorm 7.1.1.1 Instruments for the Generation of Ideas 7.1.1.2 Idea Generation by Groups 7.1.1.3 Idea Generation by Individuals 7.1.1.4 Classification of Idea Generation Methods 7.1.2 Assess and Select 7.1.3 Sketch and Build 7.1.4 Justify and Reflect 7.2 Research Strategies and Methods for Design and Develop Artefact 7.3 Guidelines for Design and Develop Artefact 7.4 Alternative Conceptualizations and Definitions 7.5 Summary of Chapter 7.6 Review Questions 7.7 Answers to Selected Review Questions 7.8 Further Reading References 8 Demonstrate Artefact 8.1 Sub-activities of Demonstrate Artefact 8.2 Resources for Demonstrate Artefact 8.3 Research Strategies and Methods for Demonstrate Artefact 8.4 Guidelines for Demonstrate Artefact 8.5 Summary of Chapter 8.6 Review Questions 8.7 Answers to Selected Review Questions 9 Evaluate Artefact 9.1 Goals of Artefact Evaluation 9.2 Types of Evaluation Strategies 9.3 Sub-activities of Evaluate Artefact 9.3.1 Analyse Evaluation Context 9.3.2 Select Evaluation Goals and Strategy 9.3.3 Design and Carry Out Evaluation 9.4 Resources for Evaluate Artefact 9.5 Research Strategies and Research Methodsfor Evaluate Artefact 9.6 Guidelines for Evaluate Artefact 9.7 Summary of Chapter 9.8 Review Questions 9.9 Answers to Selected Review Questions 9.10 Further Reading References 10 Communicate Artefact Knowledge 10.1 Communicating with Different Communities 10.2 The IMRAD Structure 10.3 A Structure for Design Science Papers 10.4 Summary of Chapter 10.5 Review Questions 10.6 Answers to Selected Review Questions 10.7 Further Reading References 11 Systems Development and the Method Framework for Design Science Research 11.1 Temporal and Logical Orderings of Work 11.2 Differences Between Systems Development and Design Science Research 11.3 Design and Appropriation 11.4 Summary of Chapter 11.5 Review Questions 11.6 Answers to Selected Review Questions 11.7 Further Reading References 12 Research Paradigms 12.1 Positivism 12.2 Interpretivism 12.3 Positivism and Interpretivism in the Movies 12.4 Positivism and Interpretivism in Design Science 12.5 Critical Realism and Design Science 12.6 Critical Theories and Design Science 12.7 What Design Science Is and Is Not 12.8 Summary of Chapter 12.9 Review Questions 12.10 Answers to Selected Review Questions 12.11 Further Reading References 13 Ethics and Design Science 13.1 Principles for Research Ethics 13.2 Ethics in the Information Society 13.2.1 Social Issues 13.2.1.1 Intellectual Property 13.2.1.2 The Digital Divide 13.2.1.3 Work and Employment 13.2.2 Individual Rights 13.2.2.1 Freedom of Speech 13.2.2.2 Surveillance and Privacy 13.2.3 Warfare and Terrorism 13.2.3.1 ICT in Warfare 13.2.3.2 Cyberterrorism 13.2.4 Personal Values 13.2.4.1 Identity and Virtual Communities 13.2.4.2 Inclusion and Technology 13.3 Ethical Principles for Design Science Research 13.4 Summary of Chapter 13.5 Review Questions 13.6 Answers to Selected Review Questions 13.7 Further Reading References 14 Digital Consultations: A Case Study 14.1 Explicate Problem 14.2 Define Requirements 14.3 Design and Develop 14.4 Evaluate Artefact 14.5 Design Science Canvas Representation References Index