Design research promotes understanding of advanced, cutting-edge information systems through the construction and evaluation of these systems and their components. Since this method of research can produce rigorous, meaningful results in the absence of a strong theory base, it excels in investigating new and even speculative technologies, offering the potential to advance accepted practice. Design Science Research Methods and Patterns presents innovative research methods that help break new ground by applying patterns, reuse, and design science to research. The book relies on familiar patterns to provide the solid fundamentals of various research philosophies and techniques as touchstones that demonstrate how to innovate research methods. Filled with practical examples of applying patterns to IT research with an emphasis on reusing research activities to save time and money, this book describes design science research in relation to other information systems research paradigms such as positivist and interpretivist research.

Table of Contents:
INTRODUCTION DESIGN SCIENCE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Introduction to Design Science Research in Information and Communication Technology Overview of Design Science Research Research Design Can Design Be Research? The Outputs of Design Science Research An Example of Community-Determined Outputs The Philosophical Grounding of Design Science Research Design Science Research Methodology (By Example) An Example of ICT Design Science Research Smart Objects: A Design Science Research Project Awareness of Problem Suggestion Awareness of Problem Redoux Development Evaluation Conclusion Epilogue Design Science Research versus Design References General References on Design Science Research References on Philosophical Grounding of Design Science Research References on Design Science Research Methodology References on Understanding Design Science Research in the Context of Information Systems Research The Aggregate General Design Cycle as a Perspective on the Evolution of Computing Communities of Interest Introduction The General Design Cycle The Aggregate General Design Cycle Exercising the AGDC Framework:Concept Mapping 25 Years of Database Research Using the AGDC to Explain Coordination between Diverse Groups Conclusion References A Process to Reuse Experiences via Written Narratives among Software Project Managers: A Design Science Research Proposal Research Problem Research Questions Research Motivation Research Approach Research Methodology Awareness of Problem Suggestion Development Evaluation Summary Limitations and Expected Contributions References PATTERNS [The prefix M indicates that the pattern is a meta-level pattern, applicable to multiple stages in the research process. Meta-level patterns are explained in more detail at the end of Section 5.3.] Using Patterns to Illuminate Research Practice Introduction Patterns, Then and Now The General Design Cycle Revisited Pattern Usage in the Development of the Smart Object Paradigm Pre-Awareness of Problem Awareness of Problem Suggestion Development Evaluation Conclusion Practice, Practice, Practice References Creativity Patterns Creativity MStages of Inventive Process MWild Combinations MBrain Storming MStimulating Creativity (Ladd, 1987) Problem Selection and Development Patterns Problem Selection and Development Research Domain Identification Problem Area Identification Problem Formulation MResearch Conversation Leveraging Expertise MCost-Benefit Analysis MSolution-Scope Mismatch MBeing Visionary Research Offshoots Bridging Research Communities Experimentation and Exploration Hierarchical Decomposition Interdisciplinary Problem Extrapolation MQuestioning Constraints Structuring an Ill-Structured Problem MAbstraction MComplex System Analysis Literature Search Patterns Literature Search Familiarization with New Area MUnderstanding Research Community Framework Development MIndustry and Practice Awareness Suggestion and Development Patterns Suggestion and Development Theory Development Approaches for Building Theory Hermeneutical and Inductive Approach Incremental Theory Development MProblem Space Tools and Techniques MResearch Community Tools and Techniques Empirical Refinement Easy Solution First Elegant Design Divide and Conquer with Balancing Hierarchical Design Building Blocks MSketching Solution Emerging Tasks Modeling Existing Solutions Combining Partial Solutions Static and Dynamic Parts Simulation and Exploration MInterdisciplinary Solution Extrapolation MDifferent Perspectives General Solution Principle Abstracting Concepts Using Surrogates Using Human Roles Integrating Techniques MTechnological Approach Exemplars MMeans-Ends Analysis Evaluation and Validation Patterns Evaluation and Validation Demonstration Experimentation Simulation Using Metrics Benchmarking Logical Reasoning Mathematical Proofs Publishing Patterns Publishing Conference and Journal Submissions Writing Conference Papers Writing Journal Papers MStyle Exemplars MAligning with a Paradigm Novelty and Significance Use of Examples RESEARCH PATTERN USAGE EXEMPLARS Pattern Analysis of Design Science Research Exemplars Pattern Analysis "A Data/Knowledge Paradigm for the Modeling and Design of Operations Support Systems" "Automating the Discovery of As-Is Business Process Models: Probabilistic and Algorithmic Approaches" "Improving Analysis Pattern Reuse in Conceptual Design: Augmenting Automated Processes with Supervised Learning" "A Case-Based Database Design Support System" "World Wide Web: Proposal for Hypertext Project" "The Entity-Relationship Model: Toward a Unified View of Data" "A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks" "The Working Set Model for Program Behavior" "Communicating Sequential Processes" "Optimum Multiway Search Trees"