Abstract
There appears to be two schools of information systems development methods research that largely pursue their own agendas without many cross-references. On the one hand there is the method engineering research and on the other hand there is the method-in-action research. There seems to be much to be gained from integrating these two schools, developing knowledge that both has the formality (rigor) and reflects its enactment in practice. To achieve this, the research approach adopted has to embrace this duality. In this paper we explore how Multi-Grounded Action Research (MGAR) can contribute to achieving this aim. MGAR has been used in the development of a Method for Method Configuration, a research product that integrates the strengths of both schools.
Chapter PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
References
P.J. Ågerfalk and B. Fitzgerald, in: In Advanced Topics in Database Research, edited by K. Siau (PA: Idea Group, Hershey, 2006), pp. 63–78.
S. Brinkkemper, Method engineering: engineering of information systems development methods and tools, Information and Software Technology. 38(4), 275–280, (1996).
S. Brinkkemper, M. Saeki, and F. Harmsen, Meta-modelling based assembly techniques for situational method engineering, Information Systems. 24(3), 209–228, (1999).
A.F. Harmsen, Situational Method Engineering (Moret Ernst & Young Management Consultants, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 1997).
J. Ralyté, R. Deneckère, and C. Rolland, Towards a Generic Model for Situational Method Engineering in: Advanced Information Systems Engineering, 15th International Conference, CAiSE 2003, LNCS 3084, Springer-Verlag, pp.202–218.
C. Rolland and N. Prakash, A Proposal For Context-Specific Method Engineering in: Method Engineering: Principles of method construction and tool support, edited by S. Brinkkemper, K. Lyytinen, and R. Welke (Chapman & Hall, 26–28 August 1996).
A.H.M. ter Hofstede and T.F. Verhoef, On the Feasibility of Situational Method Engineering, Information Systems. 22(6/7), 401–422, (1997).
D.E. Avison and G. Fitzgerald, Where now for development methodologies? Association for Computing Machinery. Communications of the ACM. 46(1), 78, (2003).
L.D. Introna and E.A. Whitley, Against Method-ism: Exploring the limits of method, Information Technology & People. 10(1), 31–45, (1997).
N.L. Russo and E. Stolterman, Exploring the assumptions underlying information systems methodologies: their impact on past, present and future ISM research, Information Technology & People. 13(4), 313–327, (2000).
F. Karlsson and P.J. Ågerfalk, Method Configuration: Adapting to Situational Characteristics while Creating Reusable Assets, Information and Software Technology. 46(9), 619–633, (2004).
M. Lind and G. Goldkuhl, How to develop a Multi-Grounded Theory: The Evolution of a Business Process Theory, Australian Journal of Information Systems. 13(2), 69–85, (2006).
R. Baskerville and J. Pries-Heje, Grounded action research: a method for understanding IT in practice, Accounting, Management and Information Technologies. 9 1–23, (1999).
A.L. Strauss and J.M. Corbin, Basics of qualitative research: techniques and procedures. for developing grounded theory (SAGE, Thousand Oaks, CA, 1998).
H.K. Klein and M.D. Myers, A Set of Principles for Conducting and Evaluating Interpretive Field Studies in Information Systems, MIS Quarterly. 1 67–94, (1999).
A.S. Lee, A Scientific Methodology for MIS Case Studies, MIS Quarterly. 13(1), 33–51, (1989).
R. Baskerville and A.T. Wood-Harper, Diversity in information systems action research methods, European Journal of Information Systems. 7 90–107, (1998).
K. Braa and R. Vidgen, Interpretation, intervention, and reduction in the organizational laboratory: a framework for in-context information system research, Accounting, Management and Information Technologies. 9(1), 25–47, (1999).
L. Mathiassen, Collaborative Practice Research, Information Technology & People. 15(4), 321–345, (2002).
G. Goldkuhl and A. Röstlinger, Joint elicitation of problems: An important aspect of. change analysis, in Human, Organizational, and Social Dimensions of Information Systems Development, D.E. Avison, J.E. Kendall, and J.I. DeGross, Editors. 1993: North-Holland. p. 107–125.
F. Karlsson, P.J. Ågerfalk, and A. Hjalmarsson, Process Configuration with Development Tracks and Generic Project Types in: Proceedings of the 6th CAiSE/IFIP8.1 International Workshop on Evaluation of Modelling Methods in Systems Analysis and Design (EMMSAD’01)(4–5 June 2001).
F. Karlsson, Method Configuration-A Systems Development Project Revisited in: The Fourteenth International Conference on Information Systems Development (ISD 2005), edited by A.G. Nilsson, et al. (Springer, Karlstad, Sweden, 14–17 August, 2005).
B. Fitzgerald, N.L. Russo, and E. Stolterman, Information Systems Development-Methods in Action (McGraw-Hill, London, 2002).
K. Wistrand and F. Karlsson, Method Components-Rationale Revealed in: The 16th International Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering (CAiSE 2004), edited by A. Persson and J. Stirna (Riga, Latvia, June 7–11, 2004).
P.J. Ågerfalk and K. Wistrand, Systems Development Method Rationale: A Conceptual Framework for Analysis in: Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems (ICEIS 2003) (Angers, France, 23–26 April 2003).
F. Karlsson and K. Wistrand, Combining method engineering with activity theory: theoretical grounding of the method component concept, European Journal of Information Systems. 15 82–90, (2006).
F. Karlsson, Method Configuration-Method and Computerized Tool Support (Linköping University, Linköping, 2005).
J. Cameron, Configurable Development Processes, Communications of the ACM. 45(3), 72–77, (2002).
P. Stevens and R. Pooley, Using UML-Software Engineering with Objects and Components (Addison Wesley, Essex, England, 2006).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 International Federation for Information Processing
About this paper
Cite this paper
Karlsson, F., Ågerfalk, P.J. (2007). Multi-Grounded Action Research in Method Engineering: The MMC Case. In: Ralyté, J., Brinkkemper, S., Henderson-Sellers, B. (eds) Situational Method Engineering: Fundamentals and Experiences. ME 2007. IFIP — The International Federation for Information Processing, vol 244. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-73947-2_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-73947-2_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-73946-5
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-73947-2
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)