Introducing Cascading Artifacts – Planning Ahead the Natural Evolution of Artifacts During a Design Science Research Journey

Description

Design science research (DSR) aims at developing a single artifact to solve real-world problems, often in a highly iterative process. However, the iterative research process may also lead to the development of multiple artifacts that are interrelated and interdependent due to the natural evolution because of the DSR process. To reflect on the process, this study introduces cascading artifacts, showing the relevance of artifacts on different levels of abstraction. The approach proposes to plan the cascade and enable the reuse of artifacts as part of the DSR process. Especially in complex research situations, planning the cascade supports the structuring of the design cycles to convert from conceptual models into applicable artifacts. However, the artifacts on different levels contribute to the knowledge base and may foster a starting point for other research projects. This study shows the advantages of considering cascading artifact evolution at the beginning of the DSR.

Period	01 Jun 2023
Event title	DESRIST 2023
Event type	Conference
Location	South AfricaShow on map