Enhancing Practical Impact and Engagement in Design Science Research
Abstract
This paper addresses the gap between theoretical advances in Design Science Research (DSR) and their
practical implementation. Despite DSR's potential for transformative impact, the challenge of translating
research artifacts into tangible, real-world applications remains. We explore interdisciplinary concepts to
identify actionable pathways that enhance the practical applicability and real-world engagement of DSR.
Our analysis reveals four key pathways: integrating stakeholder engagement throughout the DSR process,
adopting a holistic problem-solving perspective, improving artifact design with user insights, and
maximizing practical impact through strategic communication. These pathways are developed through a
comprehensive literature review and insights from concepts such as human-centered design, systems
thinking, and engaged scholarship. Our contribution is twofold: we answer the call for greater practical
applicability in DSR by outlining strategies for operationalizing interdisciplinary insights, and we propose
an initial framework for a more engaged DSR practice
Keywords
Design science research; interdisciplinary methods; practical relevance; literature review; research methodologies