Design theorizing ecis practise workshop 09062012

Theorizing in Design Research

Matti Rossi Aalto University School of EconomicsSandeep PuraoPenn State UniversityMaung SeinAgder University

2

Contents

• Why theorizing from DR at all?• What has been said before• How one can theorize from from DR?

04/12/20232

3

What theory is not? (Sutton and Staw, 1995)• References are not theory• Data are not theory• Lists of variables and constructs are not theory• Diagrams are not theory• Hypotheses (or predictions) are not theory

4

Theory according Nunamaker et al.

Different types of theory building:• Declare the “truth”

– e.g. Dijkstra’s ”Go to statement considered harmful” CACM, 1968

• Formulate a concept (i.e. a framework)– e.g. Relational model

• Construct a method– e.g. Parnas on modularity

• Develop a theory– e.g. Halstead’s Software Science

5

Theory of theories(Gregor, 2006)• Theory for analysing and describing• Theory for explaining• Theory for predicting• Theory for explaining and predicting• Theory for design and action (design theory)

6

IS Design Theory (Walls et al, 1992)

Kernel Theory

Meta- Require-

ments

Kernel Theory

Meta- Design

Testable (product)

hypotheses

DesignMethod

Testable (process)

hypotheses

7

-

Walls, Widmeyer and El-Sawy 2004

8

Kuechler and Vaishnavi (2008) on levels of theories

04/12/20238

9

Design Theory Level 4

Problem(s)Solution(s) as artifact in use

Class of Problems

Class ofSolutions

Design process

Level 2Level 1

DesignPrinciples

Level 3

Generalizing from ADR

10

Problem(s)Solution(s) as artifact in use

Class of Problems Class of

Solutions

Design process

Kernel Theory

Level 3: modifying theory

Level 1 Level 2

Modifying (kernel) theory through ADR

11

Conclusions

• Theorizing is vital for design research to mature– We should see the designs as tests of the kernel and/or design

theories

• There are different forms of theorizing• There are different theoretical contributions• Not everyone has to come up with a full design theory

– The goal should be always to develop at least design principles

04/12/202311

12

13

Contact Information

Matti RossiHelsinki School of Economics

P.O. Box 1210

FIN-00101 Helsinki

Finland

Email: matti.rossi@hse.fi

Phone: +358-9-43138996

Fax : +358-9-43138777

13

http://www.hse.fi/EN/HKI/R/Matti.Rossi/1_ContactInfo.htmIM: Matti_Rossi@msn.com