The course is offered on the PhD programme in Informatics, to PhD students within the Research School Management and IT (MIT) and to external PhD students.

The course has a two-day activity on each theme every month. The course will be given on campus at the Department of Informatics in Lund. The course has an hybrid option that means that it can be possible to take some parts of the course from distance in discussion with the course director.

Course description

The course focuses on the application and use of design science research in information systems. It provides knowledge on the fundamentals of methods and techniques classified as ‘design’ including artifact design, development, and evaluation. It also includes a discussion of the concepts of design, the IS artifact, design problems and solutions in addition to theories of design. The course is supplemented by a discussion of a specific form of design science research called Action Design Research (ADR). 

Course design

The course is designed to include extensive discussions of literature on design science research as well as hands-on exercises about the following themes: 

• Theories of design
• The design science research process, methods, and techniques
• The design of IS artifacts and products of design science research
• ADR

Course content

The course will be structured around main themes in the literature. These include the following:

• The characteristics of design science research in IS
• Theories of design and design as a science 
• The design science research process
• Design science research methods and techniques 
• The IS artifact and design science research products and outcomes
• Design science problems and solutions
• Action design research (ADR)

Assessment

Assessment will be done along several dimensions corresponding to the deliverables and learning outcomes of the course. This includes the following:

• Active participation in the discussions and presentations of the four course themes including the ADR exercises. (1 credit)
• Writing individual summaries of the reading literature in each theme – see separate instructions by the course leaders. (2 credits)
• Writing a group report outlining the outcome from ADR exercises – see separate instructions by the guest lecturer. (1.5 credits)
• Writing an individual publishable article on one of themes of the course – see separate instructions by the course leaders. (3 credits)