Conceptual Framework Report: Design Science, Methods and Analysis

This report delves into the conceptual framework of design science, beginning with an overview of its core principles and its role in integrating various disciplines. It explores the use of conceptual tools, particularly in the context of system design, and highlights the four key research activities: theory building, system development, experimentation, and field studies. The report discusses the significance of synergy within the design science framework, emphasizing the importance of understanding the behavior of the whole system. It details the design science methodology, including the phases of problem definition, goal setting, and the development of solutions. The report then analyzes two student responses, which reflect on design science, the importance of conceptual frameworks, and their applications. The report concludes by providing a list of references that support the concepts discussed.

Running head: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Conceptual Framework
Name of student-
Name of University-
Authors Note-

1CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Main Response:
Design science is known as a specialized discipline which can rather be stated as
integration of disciplines. Conceptual tool in design science is used as patterning thoughts. It is
often considered as metaphor which organizes information. The conceptual tool that is related to
design science mainly has four research activities which consist of theory building, system
development, experimentation and the field studies. Synergy means the behavior that the whole
system has which is unpredictable by the behaviors of any other parts of the system are taken
separately. Humanity is mainly responsible for all the actions that are made fundamental with
design science.
The methodology of design science consists of many phases. The design science planning
process includes: Choosing the particular problem of the situation. This includes where to start
the process. The second method includes in defining the problem. In this phase what is the
problem about is stated and which part is not working is mainly stated in this phase1. Third phase
consists of the preferred state that is what is really wanted, what should be achieved and how the
workings of the systems are done. After this state, the present state is described. The present state
includes about how the system is working, how the system works presently and for that what is
needed to be known. Fifth phase includes inventory alternatives. Sixth phase includes evolution
criteria development. This phase gives the best alternative that can be chosen from the system.
Then the preferred system is designed. This phase defines how the system looks like, what would
be the working principle and elements of the system2. The eighth stage consists of developing the
1 Buss, D. (2015). Evolutionary psychology: The new science of the mind. Psychology Press.
2 Hahn, R. (2013). A primer on environmental policy design. Taylor & Francis.

2CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
strategies that are needed for implementation and the last stage is for documenting the whole
process. The full process is documented so that the work is known to all about actually how the
procedures are carried out.
Student Response 1:
Behavioral science research and design science are similar to one another in the field of
information system. From the student response it can be concluded that synergy is known as the
law of the system which is to be understood. The system of design science is mainly based on the
computer based systems. It is also known that the biologists accepted this fact that there is no
way to get a prediction. Also conceptual tools extended design science so that they may include
system of developing methods by renaming the field studies as in situ investigation and also adds
action research in their filed study and also included role playing simulations in the experimental
sides of the conceptual framework.
Student Response 2:
The concept of conceptual framework includes a conception or a model of what are
actually those is to be studied and what are the things that are actually going on with those
things. The concept of conceptual tool comes from patterning methods. Conceptual tool is a
method for eventually behavior, thought and organizing information. It can be summarized that
conceptual tool also includes why a phenomena of tentative theory is needed for investigation.
The practice of design science is not kept secret in the universe anymore. Design science is out
of secrets now3. The problems that are related with human which includes the findings of
3 Gunn, W., Otto, T., & Smith, R. C. (Eds.). (2013). Design anthropology: theory and practice. A&C
Black.

3CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
humanities and science are included in the design science. Design science is considered as
integrative discipline.

4CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
References
Buss, D. (2015). Evolutionary psychology: The new science of the mind. Psychology Press.
Gunn, W., Otto, T., & Smith, R. C. (Eds.). (2013). Design anthropology: theory and practice.
A&C Black.
Hahn, R. (2013). A primer on environmental policy design. Taylor & Francis.
Norman, D. A., & Verganti, R. (2014). Incremental and radical innovation: Design research vs.
technology and meaning change. Design issues, 30(1), 78-96.