Design Theory

Design theory

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This theory is waiting to be summarized!

Alternate name(s)

Instructional Design Theory, Design Research, Design Science, Theory of Artifacts

Main dependent construct(s)/factor(s)

Subjective measures (e.g. satisfaction, goodness)

Objective measures (e.g. percentage of improvement in efficiency, number of users)

Main independent construct(s)/factor(s)

Philosophy of design is concerned with the question “what is the purpose of design?”

Aristotle proposed four causes, four types of answers to the question “why”, and Heidegger showed that Aristotle’s four causes differed from one another (Gregor and Jones, 2007).

1. Causa materialis is the material or matter.
2. Causa formalis is the form or shape the material or matter enters.
3. Causa finalis is the end.
4. Causa efficiens is the effect that is finished.

Artifact mutability

Testable propositions

Expository instantiation

Seminal articles

Weber, R. (1987). Toward a theory of artifacts: a paradigmatic base for information systems research. Journal of Information Systems, 1(2), 3-19.

Walls, J. G., Widmeyer, G. R., & El Sawy, O. A. (1992). Building an information system design theory for vigilant EIS. Information systems research, 3(1), 36-59.

March, S. T., & Smith, G. F. (1995). Design and natural science research on information technology. Decision support systems, 15(4), 251-266.

Simon, H. A. (1996). The sciences of the artificial (Vol. 136). MIT press.

Markus, M. L., Majchrzak, A., & Gasser, L. (2002). A design theory for systems that support emergent knowledge processes. Mis Quarterly, 179-212.

Hevner, A., March, S. T., Park, J., & Ram, S. (2004). Design science in information systems research. MIS quarterly, 28(1), 75-105.

Gregor, S., & Jones, D. (2007). The anatomy of a design theory. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 8(5), 312-335.

Peffers, K., Tuunanen, T., Rothenberger, M. A., & Chatterjee, S. (2007). A design science research methodology for information systems research. Journal of management information systems, 24(3), 45-77.

Originating area

Philosophy

Level of analysis

Design of an IS artifact

Links from this theory to other theories

Kernel Theory

External links

Four causes

Original Contributor(s)

Vishal Uppala

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