Re-visiting IS design science artifacts: Making a case for critical realism

Abstract

In this paper critical realism is suggested as a suitable philosophical assumption to guide a separate, stand-alone retrospective evaluation of design science projects and artifacts. A main contribution of the paper is to argue that knowledge can be gained in retrospective evaluations of design science projects regardless of the success or non-success of the project itself. Thereby, retrospective evaluation complements current evaluations that are mostly means-end focused. The argumentation is supported through re-visiting two e-government design science projects, which can be considered both as failures and successes depending on the framing. Critical realism puts focus on knowing through making and widens the use of design science in areas where utility is not the main goal. Future research should focus on providing more details on how a critical realism retrospective in design science should be carried out.