The Design Theory Nexus

Managers frequently face ill-structured or “wicked” problems. Such problems are characterized by a large degree of uncertainty with respect to how the problem should be approached and how to establish and evaluate the set of alternative solutions. A design theory nexus is a set of constructs and met...

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Main Authors: Pries-Heje, J., Baskerville, Richard
Format: Journal Article
Published: MIS Research Centre 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:http://misq.org/the-design-theory-nexus.html?SID=2bfvls8kkadkgigd6rrpf2uu91
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/24485
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author Pries-Heje, J.
Baskerville, Richard
author_facet Pries-Heje, J.
Baskerville, Richard
author_sort Pries-Heje, J.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Managers frequently face ill-structured or “wicked” problems. Such problems are characterized by a large degree of uncertainty with respect to how the problem should be approached and how to establish and evaluate the set of alternative solutions. A design theory nexus is a set of constructs and methods that enable the construction of models that connect numerous design theories with alternative solutions. It thereby offers a unique problem-solving approach that is particularly useful for addressing ill-structured or wicked problems. For each alternative solution in a design theory nexus one or more unique criteria are established to formulate a specific design theory. We develop a general method for constructing a design theory nexus and illustrate its utility using two field studies. One develops and applies an organizational change nexus. The other develops and applies a user involvement nexus. Each is a specific instantiation of the general design theory nexus constructs. Usingthese illustrations, we provide examples of how to evaluate
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-244852017-02-28T01:47:57Z The Design Theory Nexus Pries-Heje, J. Baskerville, Richard participative development design science research organizational change science of design Design research wicked problems multiple criteria decision making user involvement Managers frequently face ill-structured or “wicked” problems. Such problems are characterized by a large degree of uncertainty with respect to how the problem should be approached and how to establish and evaluate the set of alternative solutions. A design theory nexus is a set of constructs and methods that enable the construction of models that connect numerous design theories with alternative solutions. It thereby offers a unique problem-solving approach that is particularly useful for addressing ill-structured or wicked problems. For each alternative solution in a design theory nexus one or more unique criteria are established to formulate a specific design theory. We develop a general method for constructing a design theory nexus and illustrate its utility using two field studies. One develops and applies an organizational change nexus. The other develops and applies a user involvement nexus. Each is a specific instantiation of the general design theory nexus constructs. Usingthese illustrations, we provide examples of how to evaluate 2008 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/24485 http://misq.org/the-design-theory-nexus.html?SID=2bfvls8kkadkgigd6rrpf2uu91 MIS Research Centre restricted
spellingShingle participative development
design science research
organizational change
science of design
Design research
wicked problems
multiple criteria decision making
user involvement
Pries-Heje, J.
Baskerville, Richard
The Design Theory Nexus
title The Design Theory Nexus
title_full The Design Theory Nexus
title_fullStr The Design Theory Nexus
title_full_unstemmed The Design Theory Nexus
title_short The Design Theory Nexus
title_sort design theory nexus
topic participative development
design science research
organizational change
science of design
Design research
wicked problems
multiple criteria decision making
user involvement
url http://misq.org/the-design-theory-nexus.html?SID=2bfvls8kkadkgigd6rrpf2uu91
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/24485