[AISWorld] [AJIS] New Section Published: Special Section on Design Research for Decision Support Systems Development

[John Lamp]

Hi,

The Australasian Journal of Information Systems has just published its latest special section.

Special Section on Design Research for Decision Support Systems Development
Includes an extended literature review.
Shah J Miah, G Michael McGrath and Don V Kerr

Miah, S., McGrath, M., & Kerr, D. (2016). Design science research for decision support systems development: recent publication trends in the premier IS journals.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v20i0.1482

Abstract
This paper presents a contemporary literature review of design science research (DSR) studies in the domain of decision support systems (DSS) development.  The latest studies in the DSS design domain claim that DSR methodologies are the most popular design approach, but many details are still yet to be revealed for supporting this claim. In particular, it is important to thoroughly investigate the trends in either the form or deeper insights in use of DSR in this field. The aim of this study is to analyse the existing DSS design science studies to reveal insights into the use of DSR, so that we can outline research agenda for a special issue, based on findings of analysis. We selected articles (from 2005 to 2014) that were published in seven selected premier IS journals (ranked as A* in the ABDC journal ranking). The selected 57 sample articles are representative of DSS design studies that used DSR in theorising, designing, implementing, and evaluating DSS solutions. We discuss the theoretical positions of DSR for DSS development through six categories: DSS artefacts, DSR methods, DSR views, user involvement, DSS design innovations and problem domains. The findings indicate that new studies are needed to fill the knowledge gap in DSS design science, for more solid theoretical basis in near future.

MacKrell, D., & McDonald, C. (2016). An Evaluation View of an Ensemble Artefact for Decision Support using Action Design Research.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v20i0.1280

Abstract
This paper investigates the integration of content, context and process (CCP) into the Action Design Research (ADR) framework to account for the interplay of organisational issues in artefact design and development. The investigation is conducted through a case study in which successive ICT student teams incrementally build, over several semesters, a tailored, low cost business intelligence (BI) system as an ensemble artefact for an organisation in the not-for-profit (NFP) sector. During project development, CCP's human-centred approach to evaluation complements ADR's more prescribed technology-driven software testing. The integration of CCP into ADR as an evaluation view offers an holistic approach to assessing an ensemble artefact. The resultant conceptual framework is presented as a model with an explication of unexpected design and research outcomes.

McGrath, G., & Lipman, G. (2016). Construction and Use of a 'Green Growth' Tourism Decision Support System: A Multi-Model Approach.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v20i0.1305

Abstract
For design, development, implementation and use of an information system (IS) to constitute a valid research activity, the system should support the solution of a non-trivial and important problem and it should be original, drawing on existing theories and knowledge. The design of one such system is described in this paper: specifically, a decision support system (DSS) designed to support the development of 'Green Growth' (GG) strategies for Travelism (Travel & Tourism) destinations. A sound GG strategy is important: first, because tourism is a major contributor to the global economy - particularly for developing and island states; second because it represents some 5% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and these are increasing faster than the global norm; and third because the environment is an essential element of destination attractiveness. Thus, the problem domain is certainly non-trivial and important. It is further argued that the design of the DSS artefact described is original and novel in the sense that: i) it supports the entire GG strategy development process (which is actually cyclical); ii) it allows for the sharing of data, functionality and knowledge between different DSS applications and different strategy development exercises in a seamless, integrated manner; and iii) it will be deployed in a global community based program in 2016. System design draws heavily on previous IS, information management and software engineering research; particularly with regard to use of abstraction and interfaces in support of component sharing and reuse.

Blake, J., Kerr, D., & Gammack, J. (2016). Development of a DSS and Online Tools to Support Sleep Disorder Consultations using Design Science
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v20i0.1303

Abstract
Medical decision making takes place in a complex and dynamic environment, involving various individual and organisational stakeholders. In such contexts supportive information systems are required to be designed for practical efficacy, emphasising transparency, usability, and usefulness to their primary users. At the same time, they need to demonstrate improved efficiency and diagnostic accuracy.  In addition, they also need to provide effective communication of relevant information. This paper describes the use of design science to develop and evaluate a DSS incorporated into online tools to support sleep physician's diagnosis of sleep disorders.  The design science approach offers guidance for developing this solution, that ensure the artefacts fit into their usage context, and that development and evaluation principles that generalise to similar problem domains are identified. How this project fits in the design science guidelines is specified, thus demonstrating how this philosophy and methodology advances theory particularly relevant to other similar medical diagnostic domains.  The usability and technical evaluation of the set of tools indicated provide clear practical benefits at patient, physician and organisational levels.


Miah, S., & Genemo, H. (2016). A Design Science Research Methodology for Expert Systems Development.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3127/ajis.v20i0.1329

Abstract
The knowledge of design science research (DSR) can have applications for improving expert systems (ES) development research. Although significant progress of utilising DSR has been observed in particular information systems design - such as decision support systems (DSS) studies - only rare attempts can be found in the ES design literature. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the use of DSR for ES design. First, we explore the ES development literature to reveal the presence of DSR as a research methodology. For this, we select relevant literature criteria and apply a qualitative content analysis in order to generate themes inductively to match the DSR components. Second, utilising the findings of the comparison, we determine a new DSR approach for designing a specific ES that is guided by another result - the findings of a content analysis of examination scripts in Mathematics. The specific ES artefact for a case demonstration is designed for addressing the requirement of a 'wicked' problem in that the key purpose is to assist human assessors when evaluating multi-step question (MSQ) solutions. It is anticipated that the proposed design knowledge, in terms of both problem class and functions of ES artefacts, will help ES designers and researchers to address similar issues for designing information system solutions.


-=-=-=-
Call for Papers

AJIS publishes high quality contributions to the global Information Systems (IS) discipline with an emphasis on theory and practice on the Australasian context.

Topics cover core IS theory development and application (the nature of data, information and knowledge; formal representations of the world, the interaction of people, organisations and information technologies; the analysis, design and deployment of information systems; the impacts of information systems on individuals, organisations and society), IS domains (e-business, e-government, e-learning, e-law, etc) and IS research approaches.

Research and conceptual development based in a very wide range of epistemological methods are welcomed.

All manuscripts undergo double blind reviewing by at least two well qualified reviewers. Their task is to provide constructive, fair, and timely advice to authors and editor.

AJIS welcomes research and conceptual development of the IS discipline based
in a very wide range of epistemologies. Different types of research paper need to be judged by different criteria. Here are some assessment criteria that may be applied:

*       Relevance - topic or focus is part of the IS discipline.
*       Effectiveness - paper makes a significant contribution to the IS body of knowledge.
*       Impact - paper will be used for further research and/or practice.
*       Uniqueness - paper is innovative, original & unique.
*       Conceptual soundness - theory, model or framework made explicit.
*       Argument - design of the research or investigation is sound; methods appropriate.
*       Clarity - Topic is clearly stated; illustrations, charts & examples support content.
*       Reliability - data available; replication possible.
*       References - sound, used appropriately, and sufficient - appropriate AJIS articles referenced
*       Style - appropriate language, manuscript flows.

This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.

AJIS has been published since 1993 and appears in the Index of Information Systems Journals, is ranked "A" by both the Australian Council of Professors and Heads of Information Systems and the Australian Business Deans' Council.

In addition to web distribution, AJIS is distributed and indexed by a large number of organisations, a full list of which appears on the journal website.

Thanks for the continuing interest in our work,

Cheers
John
@JohnWLamp
ORCID: 0000-0003-1891-0400
ResearcherID: A-3227-2008
ISNI: 0000 0003 5074 9223
Scopus AuthorID: 9840309500

Index of Information Systems Journals http://lamp.infosys.deakin.edu.au/journals/
Editor-in-Chief, Australasian Journal of Information Systems  http://journal.acs.org.au/index.php/ajis/

Never mind "publish or perish," "get visible or vanish"
(That slogan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License<http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/>.)
[Description: Creative Commons License]

--
Dr John Lamp
Associate Professor
Department of Information Systems and Business Analytics, Deakin Business School
[dea_webbanner_dbsmission_amend04.web]

Deakin University
Geelong Waterfront Campus, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong, VIC 3220
+61 3 52272110
john.lamp at deakin.edu.au<mailto:john.lamp at deakin.edu.au>
www.deakin.edu.au<http://www.deakin.edu.au/>
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code 00113B

Important Notice: The contents of this email are intended solely for the named addressee and are confidential; any unauthorised use, reproduction or storage of the contents is expressly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please delete it and any attachments immediately and advise the sender by return email or telephone.

Deakin University does not warrant that this email and any attachments are error or virus free.
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 5460 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <http://lists.aisnet.org/pipermail/aisworld_lists.aisnet.org/attachments/20161110/f3bf6fcf/attachment.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 17780 bytes
Desc: image002.jpg
URL: <http://lists.aisnet.org/pipermail/aisworld_lists.aisnet.org/attachments/20161110/f3bf6fcf/attachment.jpg>