The Anatomy of a Design Theory

Jones, David L.; Gregor, Shirley

doi:10.17705/1jais.00129

Cited by 711 publications

(180 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Hypothesized and testable design propositions are a central component of iterative Design Science methods [38]. A typical feature that contributes to the design process is the prescriptive design hypothesis consisting of CIMO-logic: "Use for this type of problems within Context, this type of Intervention, for starting this Mechanism, in order to realize this Outcome" [25] (p. 395).…”

Section: Outcomementioning

confidence: 99%

Developing and Understanding Design Interventions in Relation to Industrial Symbiosis Dynamics

et al. 2017

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Symbiotic Urban Agriculture Networks (SUANs) are a specific class of symbiotic networks that intend to close material and energy loops from cities and urban agriculture. Private and public stakeholders in SUANs face difficulties in the implementation of technological and organisational design interventions due to the complex nature of the agricultural and urban environment. Current research on the dynamics of symbiotic networks, especially Industrial Symbiosis (IS), is based on historical data from practice, and provides only partly for an understanding of symbiotic networks as a sociotechnical complex adaptive system. By adding theory and methodology from Design Science, participatory methods, and by using agent-based modelling as a tool, prescriptive knowledge is developed in the form of grounded and tested design rules for SUANs. In this paper, we propose a conceptual Design Science method with the aim to develop an empirically validated participatory agent-based modelling strategy that guides sociotechnical design interventions in SUANs. In addition, we present a research agenda for further strategy, design intervention, and model development through case studies regarding SUANs. The research agenda complements the existing analytical work by adding a necessary Design Science approach, which contributes to bridging the gap between IS dynamics theory and practical complex design issues.

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Section: Outcomementioning

confidence: 99%

Developing and Understanding Design Interventions in Relation to Industrial Symbiosis Dynamics

et al. 2017

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“…To evaluate the design science research areas of this study, the eight components of an IS design theory by Gregor and Jones (2007) are used (see Table 9). They argue for design knowledge to be expressed as theory, because it will ensure that IS rises above the level of a craft and it will provide for a "sounder basis for arguing for the rigour and legitimacy of IS as an applied discipline" (Gregor & Jones, 2007, p. 314).…”

Section: Discussion and Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

An integrative modelling technique bridging the gap between business and information systems development

Joubert¹,

Villiers²,

Kroeze³

2018

SACJ

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The goal of this research is to develop an integrative modelling technique that is easy enough to be used by most business users with little training, but robust and structured enough to be used in subsequent Information Systems Development (ISD) modelling. This technique attempts to bridge the current gap between modelling on a business level and modelling on a technical level. The overall research methodology is design science research, embedding a grounded approach, to develop an integrative modelling technique. The resultant artefact is applied to a case study to test its applicability and suitability, and the results are evaluated. The results show that the proposed integrative modelling technique that is based on a better understanding of the fundamental entities in business and ISD modelling and their properties, attributes and relationships, can be used as a method to model business situations easily and expressively. By overcoming the divide between business and ISD modelling, the technique also advances informal, mostly textual, business modelling. The paper makes a methodological contribution by establishing a new technique that integrates business analysis with ISD, as well as demonstrating how a single case study could serve as an exemplar of a theory.

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“…However, as we often face the need to describe whole classes of information systems, it is again unlikely for a publication to only transport knowledge at one distinct level of maturity. But apart from that practical aspect, presenting abstract and generic knowledge (like design theories) also requires the description of the actual instantiation of an artifact [9]. Therefore, even publications that cover very mature knowledge are also likely to present knowledge at lower levels of maturity at the same time.…”

Section: Related Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At first glance, "design principles" seem to be a well-known and accepted form to convey design knowledge in design theories [10]. Gregor et al acknowledge design principles as one way amongst others to communicate nascent design knowledge [8] as well as a corner piece of knowledge communication within mature design theories [9].…”

Section: Design Principles As a Way To Encapsulate Entities Of Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For more mature knowledge however, i.e. design theories, there are several guidelines available [9,10] on how to publish them, but not every research project is in that mature state. But as design science is regarded as an ongoing "search process" [2], it is from our point of view vital that design knowledge is contributed to the community especially in early stages.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Communicating Nascent Design Theories on Innovative Information Systems through Multi-grounded Design Principles

Heinrich

Schwabe

2014

Advancing the Impact of Design Science: Moving From Theory to Practice

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One central goal of design science research (DSR) is to generate, extract and communicate knowledge about the design of an artifact. Design sci-ence researchers ultimately strive to contribute knowledge in the form of mature design theories; mere descriptions of the artifacts are not regarded as sufficient contributions to knowledge anymore in scholarly publications. There is an increasing body of guidelines on how to produce and publish mature design theories. However, not every research project is in that state. To publish intermediate results (i.e. nascent theories), only general, abstract publication schemes can be found in the recent literature making it difficult to publish design knowledge at that intermediate level. In this paper, we contribute an extension of an exist-ing publication scheme, tailored towards the publication of such intermediate, work in progress design knowledge in the form of prescriptive design principles. This scheme was designed with respect to the complexity of today's information systems IT artifacts. To demonstrate the scheme's applicability, we will apply it to one of our recent scholarly publications in the CSCW area. We argue that this publication scheme extension will help to communicate design knowledge in earlier project stages, which allows a faster feedback to the knowledge base that will enable a broader community to participate in the "search process" for an optimal design solution. Abstract. One central goal of design science research (DSR) is to generate, extract and communicate knowledge about the design of an artifact. Design science researchers ultimately strive to contribute knowledge in the form of mature design theories; mere descriptions of the artifacts are not regarded as sufficient contributions to knowledge anymore in scholarly publications. There is an increasing body of guidelines on how to produce and publish mature design theories. However, not every research project is in that state. To publish intermediate results (i.e. nascent theories), only general, abstract publication schemes can be found in the recent literature making it difficult to publish design knowledge at that intermediate level.In this paper, we contribute an extension of an existing publication scheme, tailored towards the publication of such intermediate, work in progress design knowledge in the form of prescriptive design principles. This scheme was designed with respect to the complexity of today's information systems IT artifacts. To demonstrate the scheme's applicability, we will apply it to one of our recent scholarly publications in the CSCW area. We argue that this publication scheme extension will help to communicate design knowledge in earlier project stages, which allows a faster feedback to the knowledge base that will enable a broader community to participate in the "search process" for an optimal design solution.

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The Anatomy of a Design Theory

Cited by 711 publications

References 55 publications

Developing and Understanding Design Interventions in Relation to Industrial Symbiosis Dynamics

Developing and Understanding Design Interventions in Relation to Industrial Symbiosis Dynamics

An integrative modelling technique bridging the gap between business and information systems development

Communicating Nascent Design Theories on Innovative Information Systems through Multi-grounded Design Principles

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