Research Method in IS

							                                                              Relevant

   What is IS ?                                                For Researchers
         Is IS actually producing first
         principles and core theories about                    For Reviewers
         its subject matter?


   Design Research ?                                           For our “users” in the field
                                                                 (a matter of confidence ...)
         What makes it different from “just”
         design




Research Method in IS                                         Design Research <> Natural Sciences

   What is IS
         Is IS actually producing first principles and
         core theories about its subject matter?                  Design Research
         C-IS versus M-IS                                            = Developing a useful artifact
         CS, SE, MIS                                                 goal-oriented, artificial
                                                                     <> discovering the “truth” or universal
                                                                     principles)
   Multiple definitions
         => Multiple research methods ?
         Which one to use when ?                                  Design versus Design Research ?




Design Science versus Natural
Sciences                                                      What is Research ?
                                                               Common elements
                                                                 New Knowledge: Uncovering the abstract,
                 Design Sciences      Natural Sciences           fundamental principles
                  Build    Eva-     Theorise        Justify         context specific
                           luate
                                                                    ... universal
Concepts                                                            Genericity means valuable ?
Models                                                           Represent Knowledge
Methods                                                             formal – mathematical
Instantiation                                                       diagrammatic
                                                                    informal - essay
                                                                 Transparent Rationale
          Table 1. Framework of March & Smith [3]
                                                                 Validation




                                                                                                               1
Design Science                                Design Researh Cycle
                                                 Knowledge                    Process          Logical
 Discovering truth – Universal Laws              Flows                        Steps            Formalism
   Also in DS !
      example: functional dependency     Relevant                             1. Awareness       Knowledge
                                         Wicked enough                        of Problem            Base
   Genericity key to utility

                                                                              2. Suggestion
 Is a SEARCH process ?                                   5. Circumscription
                                                                                               Abduction

   No guarantuee on FINDING a solution
                                                                              3. Development
   Knowledge base + CREATIVITY
                                                                                               Deduction
     key
                                                                              4. Evaluation
     by definition informal ?                  Operation and
                                               Goal Knowledge
                                                                              6. Conclusion




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