In this paper, we propose Grounded Design - a particular design research (DR) approach rooted in a practice-theoretical tradition. It assesses the quality of information technology (IT) design through evaluation of emerging changes in social practices, which result from the appropriation and use of IT artifacts. The paper starts with a systematic analysis of the reasons for persistent limitations of traditional information systems DR, specifically in coping with problems of contingency and self-referentiality. Following this critique, the principles of Grounded Design are presented. Grounded Design is applied in case studies where we reconstruct the social practices observed before and during the design and appropriation of innovative IT artifacts. We call these context-specific research endeavors ‘design case studies.’ In conducting these case studies, Grounded Design builds upon well-established research methods such as ethnographical field studies, participatory design and action research. To support the transferability of its situated findings, Grounded Design suggests documenting increasing numbers of design case studies to create an extended, comparative knowledge base. Comparing cases allows for the emergence of bottom-up concepts dealing with the design and appropriation of innovative IT artifacts in social practice.

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There are (and have been) many efforts to support the development of new forms of work organisation in Europe, most of them being project-driven either as enterprises’ own initiatives or funded by public sources. Dissemination is making rather slow progress, though, despite proven economic benefits. Moreover, national programmes supporting work organisation activities are unevenly distributed among EU member states. While Finland, Denmark or Germany, for example, provide more than one national programme with efforts to promote work organisation in different areas, the majority of EU member states — namely Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Spain — seemingly have no national activities of this kind, although there might be some regional or project-based efforts with public funding like ADAPT or EQUAL. Comparing new national initiatives with earlier programme activities, it seems that efforts have been cut back. In the final section, a number of recommendations for further initiatives are derived that focus on implementation and dissemination issues.

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