
97
Chapter 5
On Theory Development
in Design Science
Research: Anatomy of
a Research Project*
eories are practical because they allow knowledge to be accumulated
in a systematic manner and this accumulated knowledge enlightens
professional practice. (Gregor 2006)
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
elds that intends to explain or predict phenomena of interest) and the project
in turn renes that theory into a mid-range desig ...