Sven Weber

Theory-generating design science research

A frequently mentioned challenge in design science research (DSR) is the generation of novel theory above and beyond information technology artefacts. This article analyzes the DSR process and extends established frameworks for theory generation to exemplify improvements to theory generation through methods of grounded theory development. On a conceptual base, we developed a theory-generating DSR approach which integrates methods of grounded theory development with established DSR methodology. This combination enables a design theorist to generate theoretical knowledge that extends the applicable knowledge base. We do not elaborate this combination on a meta-level, but rather provide a process model for researchers in form of an extension of a well-known DSR model to combine both methods in a pluralistic research design. With this suggested research approach, scholars can draw theoretical insights from analytical abstractions and can improve the development of IT artefacts in a structured way to avoid failure or repair loops.

Does Cloud Computing Matter? An Analysis of the Cloud Model Software-as-a-Service and Its Impact on Operational Agility

With the rise of Cloud Computing, many predicted a paradigmatic change of IT-based business processes. However, extant research is primarily focusing on technical aspects, such as security and scalability, hence the assumed paradigm shift has not been explored in more detail yet. Focusing on Software as a Service (SaaS) as underlying Cloud model, we conducted an extensive literature review to derive a conceptual model presenting the influence of flexible, SaaS-based business processes on operational agility. Moreover, these processes were classified into three categories, Enterprise Resource Planning Services, Work Support Services, and Decision Support Services. In addition, we conducted ten in-depth interviews with Cloud experts to reflect on potentially missing categories and to substantiate the categories derived from extant literature. The theoretical and empirical parts of our paper reveal that SaaS-enabled processes have a positive influence on operational agility of enterprises which provides first preliminary evidence for the predicted paradigm shift.

Combining Design Science and Design Research Perspectives--Findings of Three Prototyping Projects

A challenge that information system researchers face in general is to combine the goals of generating new scientific knowledge while at the same time producing practically relevant research results, e.g., in the form of IT artifacts. To combine both, researchers and practitioners need to collaborate to develop and employ methods that enable both the systematic generation of scientific insights as well as the knowledge exchange between academia and industry. In this paper, we present the findings of a research project where we entered into an industry-academic collaboration involving three software development projects. We used a design science research approach to observe and accompany the project and to guide the scientific discovery process. In the course of our research process we developed an innovative research model that integrates our experiences from a research project with existing design science research models.

Enhancing IT Artifact Construction with Explanatory and Predictive Knowledge in Design Science Research

Abstract Design science research (DSR) has become an area of interest within information systems (IS) through its possibility to develop information technology (IT) artifacts in a structured way and to derive theoretical findings at the same time. In this paper, we present findings from the development of three IT artifacts together with industry. We started these development projects with a strict DSR lens but soon realized that guidelines recommended by established DSR frameworks fall short when it comes to develop predictive and explanatory knowledge. In addition, existing DSR frameworks do not consider the non-linear, dynamic process of IT artifact development, especially when conducted together with partners from industry. Thus, in the aftermath we conducted a comparison between our research approach and resulting findings with relevant literature on theorizing in IS to generate explanatory and predictive knowledge in DSR. In so doing, we were able to enrich the IT artifact development process with techniques to generate explanatory and predictive knowledge. This paper summarizes our findings in a reflection of the three IT artifact development projects as well as illustrates how explanatory and predictive knowledge can be generated and used in DSR.

How IT-based co-creation can provide small banks access to the financial market: a prototype development from a design science research perspective

The asset-backed securities (ABS) market shrank due to the financial crises in 2007/2008. The financial collapse was caused by both the consumer and the commercial ABS markets failure. However, the ABS market is an important source of funding for market participants in the financial services industry. Hence, we see a returning trend for ABS markets and present in this paper the development of a prototype from a design science research (DSR). perspective to enable smaller banks to securitize and sell their assets. Given the relatively low mortgage and credit volumes within smaller banks they are currently not able to package and sell their securities. The prototype developed in this paper offers a solution by pooling all mortgages gathered from hundreds of smaller banks, calculating the attached risk, and finally, selling them to investors. In this context, DSR enabled us to build such a cooperative strategy in form of a prototype.

Design science in research cooperations with the industry: findings from three prototyping projects

A challenge that IS researchers face in general is to combine the goals of generating new scientific knowledge while at the same time producing practically relevant research results, e.g., in the form of IT artefacts To combine rigor and relevance, researchers and practitioners need to collaborate to develop and employ methods that enable both the systematic generation of scientific insights and the knowledge exchange between academia and industry In this paper, we present the findings of a research project where we entered into an industry-academic collaboration with the financial services industry involving three software development and implementation projects We adopted a design science research approach to accompany the project and to guide the scientific discovery process In the course of our research process we developed an innovative research model that integrates our experiences from the research project with existing design science research models.