Explanatory Design Theory

Abstract

The paper demonstrates how design theories are explanatory. Design theories deliver functional explanations with a simple and elegant structure explaining generalized solution components by the related generalized requirements. Examples of design theory drawing from IS as well as other design-related fields to show how design theory can be both simple and complete. Analyses of notable design find that design theory consists of two parts: a design practice theory and an explanatory design theory.

A Design Theory for e-Service Environments: The Interoperability Challenge

“…Our contribution is based on a deep understanding of the interoperability concept and on the evidences collected in the context of a EU project aimed to develop a platform and a cooperation framework for providing cross-border G2B services. Since the credibility of the generalization of a theory depends, among other factors, on the credibility assigned to the evidence [31], the main limitation of this research stands on the fact that this type of EU funded R&D projects are aimed to develop a proof of concept of a given system. Therefore, validating the relationships between kernel theories, meta-requirements, meta-design, and design methods through a set of testable hypotheses was not possible after the pilot.…”

“…A different perspective to analyze the findings of the LD-CAST project is based on the notion of explorative design theory [31]. In their recent paper Baskerville and Pries-Heje focus on the design product aspects of a design theory by proposing a distinction between design practice theories and explanatory design theories.…”

Model enablement in organizational design and enterprise engineering: the why, the how and the what

“…According to Gregor, the distinctive feature of a design theory is that it makes explicit, validated prescriptions (e.g., construction guidelines, principles of form and function) for an artefact on a generic level. Investigating the question whether a design theory is just "effective practice", Baskerville and Pries-Heje [3] propose to separate a design theory into an explanatory and a practice component, designated as "explanatory design theory" and "design practice theory", respectively.…”

“…From a descriptive point of view, design theory is "…a general design solution to a class of problems that relates a set of general components to a set of general requirements" [3]. In the context of an explanatory design theory, solution requirements can be interpreted as reasons for corresponding solution components, and solution components can be justified by corresponding solution requirements.…”

“…This more inductive approach is able to generalize and reuse yet 'unexplained', innovative practices without having to take the 'detour' of descriptive theorizing. A number of good examples for explanatory design/ engineering theories have been discussed by Baskerville and Pries-Heje [3]. The organizational design example they discuss is the "Structure in Five" [16].…”