It is 5 years since the publication of the seminal paper on “Design Science in Information Systems Research” by Hevner, March, Park, and Ram in MIS Quarterly and the initiation of the Information Technology and Systems department of the Communications of AIS. These events in 2004 are markers in the move of design science to the forefront of information systems research. A suf cient interval has elapsed since then to allow assessment of from where the eld has come and where it should go. Design science research and behavioral science research started as dual tracks when IS was a young eld. By the 1990s, the in ux of behavioral scientists started to dominate the number of design scientists and the eld moved in that direction. By the early 2000s, design people were having dif culty publishing in mainline IS journals and in being tenured in many universities. Yes, an annual Workshop on Information Technology and Systems (WITS) was established in 1991 in conju- tion with the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) and grew each year. But that was the extent of design science recognition. Fortunately, a revival is underway. By 2009, when this foreword was written, the fourth DESRIST c- ference has been held and plans are afoot for the 2010 meeting. Design scientists regained respect and recognition in many venues where they previously had little.

This book is an introduction to the essential features of the analysis and design of information systems, and is aimed at students embarking on the study of information systems development. It is suitable for first and second year under-graduates and those on further education diploma courses, together with students converting from non-computing or IS degrees to a master’s degree in these subjects. SSADM version 4+ is used as the medium for discussing the modelling of information systems, present and proposed, and for relational data analysis. It includes an introduction to the analysis of requirements for information systems and a brief exposition of soft systems methodology. Decision tables, decision trees and structured English are also presented in order to describe the processes carries out in information systems. Bridging the analysis of the current information system and the design of a new one, the book presents the various procedures of logicalisation and RDA. The design of screens and reports is covered, as well as some of the ethical and social implications of new computer systems on end-users.

In any software design project, the analysis of stage documenting and designing of technical requirements for the needs of users is vital to the success of the project. This book provides a thorough introduction and survey on all aspects of analysis, including design of E-commerce systems, and how it fits into the software engineering process. The material is based on successful professional courses offered at Columbia University to a diverse audience of advanced students and professionals. An emphasis is placed on the stages of analysis and the presentation of many alternative modeling tools that an analyst can utilise. Particular attention is paid to interviews, modeling tools, and approaches used in building effective web-based E-commerce systems.

Design of Industrial Information Systems presents a body of knowledge applicable to many aspects of industrial and manufacturing systems. New software systems, such as Enterprise Resource Planning, and new hardware technologies, such as RFID, have made it possible to integrate what were separate IT databases and operations into one system to realize the greatest possible operational efficiencies. This text provides a background in, and an introduction to, the relevant information technologies and shows how they are used to model and implement integrated IT systems.With the growth of courses in information technology offered in industrial engineering and engineering management programs, the authors have written this book to show how such computer-based knowledge systems are designed and used in modern manufacturing and industrial companies. - Introduces Data Modeling and Functional Architecture Design, with a focus on integration for overall system design - Encompasses hands-on approach, employing many in-chapter exercises and end-of-chapter problem sets with case studies in manufacturing and service industries - Shows the reader how Information Systems can be integrated into a wider E-business/Web-Enabled Database business model - Offers applications in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

Software development and information systems design have a unique relationship, but are often discussed and studied independently. However, meticulous software development is vital for the success of an information system. Software Development Techniques for Constructive Information Systems Design focuses the aspects of information systems and software development as a merging process. This reference source pays special attention to the emerging research, trends, and experiences in this area which is bound to enhance the reader's understanding of the growing and ever-adapting field. Academics, researchers, students, and working professionals in this field will benefit from this publication's unique perspective.

This book provides guidelines for practicing design science in the fields of information systems and software engineering research. A design process usually iterates over two activities: first designing an artifact that improves something for stakeholders and subsequently empirically investigating the performance of that artifact in its context. This “validation in context” is a key feature of the book - since an artifact is designed for a context, it should also be validated in this context. The book is divided into five parts. Part I discusses the fundamental nature of design science and its artifacts, as well as related design research questions and goals. Part II deals with the design cycle, i.e. the creation, design and validation of artifacts based on requirements and stakeholder goals. To elaborate this further, Part III presents the role of conceptual frameworks and theories in design science. Part IV continues with the empirical cycle to investigate artifacts in context, and presents the different elements of research problem analysis, research setup and data analysis. Finally, Part V deals with the practical application of the empirical cycle by presenting in detail various research methods, including observational case studies, case-based and sample-based experiments and technical action research. These main sections are complemented by two generic checklists, one for the design cycle and one for the empirical cycle. The book is written for students as well as academic and industrial researchers in software engineering or information systems. It provides guidelines on how to effectively structure research goals, how to analyze research problems concerning design goals and knowledge questions, how to validate artifact designs and how to empirically investigate artifacts in context – and finally how to present the results of the design cycle as a whole.

Multimedia technology has the potential to transform end user computing from interactive text and graphics models into something more compatible with the digital and electronic world of the new century. This book aims to help technology professionals gain an understanding and perspective on areas related to multimedia computing and communication, while addressing the major issues and challenges in the design and management of multimedia information systems.