Enacting Creativity Rigorously in Design Science Research: Towards a Typology of Creativity Strategies

Kratz, M. E.; Seckler, C.; vom Brocke, J.

Abstract

Design Science Research (DSR) holds substantial promise for entrepreneurship by aiming to advance knowledge through innovative problem-solving approaches grounded in methodologically rigorous frameworks. While substantial progress has been made in advancing analytical and evaluative methods in DSR, there remains a lack of structured guidance on how to systematically integrate creativity into the design science process. This gap is particularly critical for entrepreneurship, where innovation and adaptability are essential for solving challenges unique to specific contexts. This study proposes a typology of creativity strategies, outlining six distinct approaches to creativity. We draw on the componential theory of creativity to ground these strategies in a theoretical framework. We demonstrate the applicability of the strategies across the main activities of DSR providing guidance for deploying creativity methods in DSR. This study contributes by advancing the methodical repertoire of creativity methods in entrepreneurship.

Keywords
Design science research; Creativity; Entrepreneurship