Problem solving patterns in design science research - Learning from engineering

Within information systems the design science research (DSR) paradigm aims at the development of useful artifacts, e.g. models or methods, with which relevant IS problems can be solved. In analogy to the engineering discipline construction processes have been proposed for DSR. Although different phases of such construction processes are explicated in several articles, contributions are missing that propose patterns/principles that support the constructor during the different phases of the construction process. Vaishnavi and Kuechler (2007) address this issue by proposing DSR patterns. Their contribution is a substantial one; however, it does not include comparable pattern approaches from the engineering discipline for the foundation of the proposed patterns. Bearing in mind that DSR has its roots in engineering, it is important to analyze so called problem solving patterns from engineering and to compare them to the DSR patterns. Using this as a basis, it is our research goal to examine whether it is possible to expand the existing DSR patterns to include patterns from engineering. As a result, 14 additional DSR patterns are proposed which originate from engineering, have not been discussed so far, but promise to be useful for DSR in information systems.