ABSTRACT
Introduction In this chapter, we describe an information systems design science research project that aims to create a (prescriptive) design theory for a class of artifacts. Several phases of the project are informed by kernel theory (frequently theory from other fields that intends to explain or predict phenomena of interest) and the project in turn refines that theory into a mid-range design science research in information systems (DSR-IS) theory (Merton 1968; Markus and Lee 2000) that is more directly applicable to information systems development. The chapter is illustrative rather than prescriptive: there are few “shoulds” or “oughts,” but rather a
demonstration of the productive relationship that can be developed between design science research, with its principal stress on design theory, and kernel theory. In order for the chapter to serve as an “existence proof” of the potentially close relationship between design science research and kernel theory, it must accomplish two things: First it must demonstrate the pedigree of the project as a true act of design science research; we have tried to do this without being overly pedantic. Second, it must demonstrate the relationships between mid-range DSR-IS theory, the kernel theory from which it was refined, and the research conducted in betterment of IS artifact design.
