An exploration of the concept of design in information systems

Abstract

This chapter explores the concepts of design and design science in a number of disciplines, including information systems (IS). The authors identify and explore various viewpoints or perspectives on design in a number of disciplines including management, engineering, architecture and product development. These perspectives include design as product, design as process or action, design as intention, design as planning including modelling, representation and method, design as communication, design as user experience, design as a value, design as professional practice and design as service. This broad and diverse set of perspectives is contrasted with what is identified and characterised by the authors as a limiting technological perspective of design adopted by the current extant papers in the mainstream IS journals. The chapter concludes with a call to broaden and further develop the concept of design, and hence design science, into an integrated holistic socio-technical view that includes the human social and organisational factors alongside the technical factors.