Developing a collaboration system for pancreatic cancer research: a clinical design science study

2023 | European Journal of Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Rueckel, David; Krumay, Barbara; Dannerer, Ewald

Abstract: Great potential exists for the use of information systems (IS) in medical resear ... Expand

Abstract: Great potential exists for the use of information systems (IS) in medical research, as they already form the backbone of several long-term medical research projects. IS can potentially support practitioner-researchers (practitioners who conduct research in their areas of practice) by enabling collaboration, particularly when the number of cases is low and the treatment strategy is centralised. However, practitioner-researchers and academic researchers differ in their research approaches. In this clinical IS research effort, we designed an IS, together with a local hospital, for supporting research on pancreatic cancer by applying a design science research (DSR) approach. We also observed how DSR is accepted and used by practitioner-researchers in this context. Consequently, we not only developed an IS but also gained insights into the benefits of DSR in projects with heterogeneous participants, namely those from various fields with different experiences and requirements. The results show that DSR contributes to mutual understanding, transparency in the design process and long-term benefits for all parties involved, which was further confirmed by post-hoc interviews. Collapse

Topics: usability user interface database system MongoDB systems development

Methods: design artifact qualitative interview design process design science field study

An Activity Theory Approach to Leak Detection and Mitigation in Patient Health Information (PHI)

2021 | Journal of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 2

Authors: Valecha, Rohit; Upadhyaya, Shambhu; Rao, H. Raghav

Abstract: The migration to electronic health records (EHR) in the healthcare industry has ... Expand

Abstract: The migration to electronic health records (EHR) in the healthcare industry has raised issues with respect to security and privacy. One issue that has become a concern for healthcare providers, insurance companies, and pharmacies is patient health information (PHI) leaks because PHI leaks can lead to violation of privacy laws, which protect the privacy of individuals' identifiable health information, potentially resulting in a healthcare crisis. This study explores the issue of PHI leaks from an access control viewpoint. We utilize access control policies and PHI leak scenarios derived from semi structured interviews with four healthcare practitioners and use the lens of activity theory to articulate the design of an access control model for detecting and mitigating PHI leaks. Subsequently, we follow up with a prototype as a proof of concept.Rohit Valecha is an assistant professor of information systems and cyber security at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He has research interests in the use of social media for crisis response. His research on detection, mitigation, and prevention of misinformation has been funded by NSF. His research has been published in Management Collapse

Topics: access control healthcare data data breach anonymity identity theft

Methods: qualitative interview design artifact design science personal interview case study

Theories: activity theory

The use of prototypes to bridge knowledge boundaries in agile software development

2020 | Information Systems Journal | Citations: 12

Authors: Huber, Thomas L.; Winkler, Maike A. E.; Dibbern, Jens; Brown, Carol V.

Abstract: Bridging knowledge boundaries among project team members is essential to prevent ... Expand

Abstract: Bridging knowledge boundaries among project team members is essential to prevent delays or complete failure of software development projects. Prior researchers have reported that software prototypes can be used to help bridge knowledge boundaries between team members in traditional software development settings, yet their use in an agile development setting remains unexplored. Agile development centers the interactions between team members on emerging representations of the prototype whose properties are prone to change over time. Therefore, we conducted an in-depth study of an agile development project to enhance our understanding on how software prototypes are used as boundary objects in a distributed team setting. Our analyses of team member interactions during 46 virtual meetings that took place over a period of 6 months revealed four different prototype use practices (exemplifying, contrasting, relating, framing) that were effective in bridging syntactic, semantic, or pragmatic knowledge boundaries. We also provide empirically grounded evidence of how variations in object properties can afford different use practices, how the use practices take advantage of these properties, and how object properties are reshaped through these use practices as different types of knowledge boundaries are bridged. These findings bear important implications for research on prototypes as boundary objects in software development in particular and boundary object use in general. Collapse

Topics: agile software development systems development IT development project virtual teamwork IT project

Methods: design artifact design methodology theory development case study qualitative coding

Theories: boundary objects theory theory of affordance information systems theory

Blockchain-Augmented Organizations

2020 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Yue, Kwok-Bun

Abstract: Blockchains can be used to enable new kinds of organizations, especially Decent ... Expand

Abstract: Blockchains can be used to enable new kinds of organizations, especially Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAO). In DAO, governance rules and transaction processing provided by traditional centralized authorities to support intermediation are completely replaced by the automated execution of trusted smart contracts to realize secure and immutable transactions. However, DAO may not be suitable for many business cases. Nevertheless, blockchains provide many unique functions, such as immutability, security, trust, and traceability, so that they can be used to augment existing software solutions. We introduce the concept of Blockchain-Augmented Organizations (BAO), in which traditional, Non-Blockchain Organizations (NBO) are augmented by the blockchain-based organizations. We compare BAO with DAO and NBO, and propose a model-based, process-driven engineering approach for constructing blockchain organizations and applications. Experience gained on a pilot blockchain prototyping experiment on an aerospace Model-Based Systems Engineering project using Hyperledger's Fabric is used to elaborate and exemplify the paper. Collapse

Topics: blockchain Hyperledger digital twin computer aided software engineering production management

Methods: design artifact design science unified modeling language experiment modeling language

Experimentation in Conceptual Modeling Research: A Systematic Review

2019 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Fischer, Markus; Rosenthal, Kristina; Strecker, Stefan

Abstract: Experiments are increasingly applied as a data generation method in conceptual ... Expand

Abstract: Experiments are increasingly applied as a data generation method in conceptual modeling research. Conceptual models, modeling languages and, in particular, their graphical notations are subject to experimental studies. The present comprehensive survey examines the current state of experimentation in conceptual modeling research. Based on an exhaustive sampling of publications, the study identifies and analyzes 98 publications reporting on experiments in conceptual modeling research published between 2005 and 2018 to develop an organizing overview along essential methodological dimensions. Findings reveal a remarkable variety in theoretical foundations, research designs and experiment procedures, and suggest to rethink hypotheses development and to further develop methodical standards for experimentation in conceptual modeling research. Collapse

Topics: database system

Methods: design science experiment conceptual modelling unified modeling language modeling language

Theories: cognitive load theory

Capturing smart service systems: Development of a domain-specific modelling language

2019 | Information Systems Journal | Citations: 0

Authors: Huber, Rocco Xaver Richard; Püschel, Louis Christian; Röglinger, Maximilian

Abstract: Over the last years, the nature of service has changed owing to conceptual advan ... Expand

Abstract: Over the last years, the nature of service has changed owing to conceptual advances and developments in information technology. These developments have given rise to novel types of service and smart service systems (SSS), ie, resource configurations capable of learning, dynamic adaptation, and decision making. Currently, the internet of things (IoT) is turning physical objects into active smart things, bridging the gap between the physical and the digital world. Smart things advance SSS as they observe the physical environment, access local data, immerse into individuals' everyday lives and organizational routines. In line with the emergent nature of both phenomena, the impact of the IoT on SSS yet needs to be explored. Building the basis for explanatory and design-led research and for the analysis and design of SSS, a means for the conceptual modelling of SSS that accounts for novel IoT-enabled concepts is in high need. Hence, we designed, demonstrated, and evaluated a domain-specific modelling language (DSML) for SSS. We evaluated the DSML by using it in the modelling of real-world scenarios from all functional IoT domains, by submitting it to the scrutiny of industry experts, by discussing it against generic DSML requirements, and by analysing to what extent it meets domain-specific design objectives compared with competing artefacts. To demonstrate the DSML, we included a complex real-world scenario centred around the Nest Learning Thermostat. Collapse

Topics: mobile system internet of things participatory design value creation smart home

Methods: design science metamodel conceptual modelling qualitative interview unified modeling language

Theories: general systems theory

Designing a Reference Model for Digital Product Configurators

2019 | International Conference on Business Informatics | Citations: 0

Authors: Hönigsberg, Sarah; Kollwitz, Christoph; Dinter, Barbara

Abstract: Since the manufacturing industry is nowadays facing increasingly heterogeneous c ... Expand

Abstract: Since the manufacturing industry is nowadays facing increasingly heterogeneous customer requirements, digital product configurators (DPC) have become a popular means for integrating customers into organizational value creation. DPC are information systems, which serve as a frontend to the customer and enable the individualization of products. The design of such a DPC is time consuming, expensive and lacks appropriate models offering guidance for its development. The paper at hand addresses these issues by providing a reference model (RM) for DPC development. The model has been constructed by means of an extensive literature review and was subsequently demonstrated and evaluated in a real world scenario. In order to ensure a flexible and individual development of company specific DPC the RM includes adaptation mechanisms. Therefore, our research provides a first building block to the endeavor of facilitating or even automating DPC development. Collapse

Topics: knowledge base

Methods: reference modelling design science literature study modeling language unified modeling language

How do Individuals Interpret Multiple Conceptual Models? A Theory of Combined Ontological Completeness and Overlap

2019 | Journal of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 23

Authors: Recker, Jan; Green, Peter

Abstract: When analyzing or designing information systems, users often work with multiple ... Expand

Abstract: When analyzing or designing information systems, users often work with multiple conceptual models because each model articulates a different, partial aspect of a real-world domain. However, the available research in this area has largely studied the use of single modeling artifacts only. We develop a new theory about interpreting multiple conceptual models that details propositions for evaluating how individuals select, understand, and perceive the usefulness of multiple conceptual models. We detail implications of our theory development for empirical research on conceptual modeling. We also outline practical contributions for the design of conceptual models and for choosing models for systems analysis and design tasks. Finally, to stimulate research that builds on our theory, we illustrate procedures for enacting our theory and discuss a range of empirically relevant boundary conditions. Jan Recker is an AIS fellow, Alexander-von-Humboldt fellow, chaired professor of information systems and systems development at the University of Cologne, and adjunct professor at Queensland University of Technology. He is presently editor in chief of the Communications of the Association for Information Systems. His research focuses on systems analysis and design, digital innovation and entrepreneurship, and digital solutions for sustainability challenges. Collapse

Topics: systems development perceived usefulness use case modeling environmental uncertainty requirements analysis

Methods: conceptual modelling theory development design science use case diagram entity relationship modeling

Theories: theory of combined ontological completeness and overlap representation theory information systems theory

Group Decision Support for Leisure Activities Using Voting and Social Networks

2017 | Group Decision and Negotiation | Citations: 0

Authors: Lesser, Ofrit; Naamani-Dery, Lihi; Kalech, Meir; Elovici, Yuval

Abstract: A group of people is often required to reach a joint decision and choose a singl ... Expand

Abstract: A group of people is often required to reach a joint decision and choose a single activity in which they will all participate. Members of such group often interact via online social networks. Group decision making requires knowledge of members’ preferences; however, in many cases the members’ preferences are not fully available. We consider a scenario where preferences are known only partially and present a group decision support framework that determines a single winning item using a voting procedure while minimizing the number of queries for members’ preferences. The framework uses a probabilistic algorithm based on the social similarity among the group members. To evaluate our framework we have built LetsDoIt, a decision support system prototype for leisure actives. We compared several types of groups and prediction methods and reveal that for groups with high internal social similarity, the algorithm reaches a decision using fewer queries, and thus less communication with the users is required. Moreover, the runtime of the algorithms using social based prediction methods is less than half that of the algorithm using rating based prediction methods. These results suggest that incorporating social similarity data, when available, can be of value. Collapse

Topics: social network decision making group decision support system recommender system decision support system

Methods: computational algorithm experiment descriptive statistic design artifact statistical hypothesis test

Unchaining Social Businesses – Blockchain as the Basic Technology of a Crowdlending Platform

2017 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Schweizer, André; Urbach, Nils; Schlatt, Vincent; Fridgen, Gilbert

Abstract: Social businesses are increasingly gaining relevance as alternatives to traditio ... Expand

Abstract: Social businesses are increasingly gaining relevance as alternatives to traditional businesses. Nonetheless, such organizations face specific problems. The emerging blockchain technology may represent an opportunity to solve several problems of social businesses and an alternative to established technologies. However, evidence about the potential of blockchain in social businesses is missing. We bridge this gap by designing, developing, and evaluating a blockchain-based crowdlending platform of a social business, following the design science research approach. The evaluation and comparison to a non-blockchain solution allows us to generate generalizable knowledge and derive implications for both research and practice. Our research shows that blockchain enables otherwise unsustainable social business models, mainly by replacing intermediaries and requires changes in software engineering practices. Further, our findings illustrate that blockchain raises challenges and uncertainties and opens promising avenues for further research. Collapse

Topics: blockchain crowdsourcing peer-to-peer lending smart contract Ethereum

Methods: design artifact design science qualitative interview theoretical contribution literature study

Theories: transaction cost economics