Method Support for Diverse Epistemological Claims in Design Science Research

Epistemologically, outcomes from Design Science Research (DSR) are usually regarded as prescriptive research. However, the DSR process involves the creation of knowledge types of other epistemological characters. Several DSR scholars have made knowledge contributions to the DSR process. We have identified that the epistemological character of these contributions is often implicit and that they often lack method support on the micro level. We state that epistemology plays a vital role because it justifies different knowledge types and provides good reason to believe in a claim. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to suggest method components justifying knowledge types related to the DSR process. Our findings are based on the analysis of a DSR project that applied method components on the micro level. We have applied a practice-oriented perspective to understand what method components researchers and practitioners applied during organisational intervention.