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Procedia Computer Science 199 (2022) 637–642
Procedia Computer Science 00 (2021) 000–000
Procedia Computer Science 00 (2021) 000–000 www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia
www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia
The 8th International Conference on Information Technology and Quantitative Management
The 8th International Conference on Information Technology and Quantitative Management
(ITQM 2020 & 2021)
(ITQM 2020 & 2021)
Applying Design Science Research for Developing Business
Applying Design Science Research for Developing Business
Artifacts
Artifacts
Mihaela Munteana*, Rodica-Doina Dănăiaţăa, Luminiţa Hurbeana
Mihaela Munteana*, Rodica-Doina Dănăiaţăa, Luminiţa Hurbeana
a
West University of Timisoara, bd. Vasile Pârvan 4, Timişoara 300223, România
a
West University of Timisoara, bd. Vasile Pârvan 4, Timişoara 300223, România
Abstract*
Abstract*
The paper introduces a theoretical substantiation of applying the Design Science Research process in Business Analytics
The paper introduces
approaches. Nowadays, a theoretical substantiation
Business Analytics, of applying
as part the Design
of information Science
systems Research
science processrelated
and closely in Business
to theAnalytics
business
approaches. Nowadays,
environment, Business
offer innovative Analytics,
support as part
to various of information
business analysis. Thesystems science
key issues andDesign
of the closely relatedResearch
Science to the business
process
environment,
are offer innovative
business artifacts. support
Our proposal to various
is focused business
on data modelanalysis.
and dataThe key issues oftwo
visualizations, themain
Design Science
business Research
artifacts process
in Business
are business
Analytics. artifacts. Our
Theoretical proposal is are
considerations focused on data model
implemented and data visualizations,
in a sustainability analysis. two main business artifacts in Business
Analytics. Theoretical considerations are implemented in a sustainability analysis.
© 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
© 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0)
© 2021 The
Selection Authors.
and/or Published
peer-review by Elsevier
under B.V. of the organizers of ITQM 2020&2021
Peer-review under responsibility of responsibility
the scientific committee of the The 8th International Conference on Information Technology
Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility
and Quantitative Management (ITQM 2020 & 2021) of the organizers of ITQM 2020&2021
Keywords: Design Science Research; business artifact; Business Analytics
Keywords: Design Science Research; business artifact; Business Analytics

1. Introduction
1. Introduction
Design Science Research (DSR) is a research paradigm accepted in disciplines such as engineering. Nowadays,
theDesign Science
research Research
paradigm (DSR)
has been is a research
extended paradigm accepted
to information systemsinscience
disciplines
[1]. such
The as engineering.
DSR Nowadays,
methodology is “an
the research paradigm has been extended to information systems science [1]. The DSR
artifact-centric creation and evaluation approach” [2]. The research methodology implies the design cycle methodology is “an
of
artifact-centric creation and evaluation approach” [2]. The research methodology implies the design
“artifacts of practical value to either the research or professional audience” [3-4]. In information system science cycle of
“artifacts of practical value to either the research or professional audience” [3-4]. In information system
artifacts are systems, applications, methods, data models, data visualizations, and others “that could contribute science
artifacts are systems,
to the efficacy applications,
of information methods,
systems data models,
in organizations” data visualizations, and others “that could contribute
[5].
to the efficacy of information systems in organizations” [5].
Business artifacts are “data/information objects whose manipulation defines the underlying processes in a
Business
business artifacts
model” [6].are “data/information
Data objects whose
models and visualizations aremanipulation
key business defines the underlying
(information) processes
artifacts in a
in business
business model” [6]. Data models and visualizations are key business (information) artifacts
intelligence, business analytics and big data projects as part of information system science [7]. Therefore, we in business
intelligence, business
propose a Design analytics
Science andprocess
Research big dataforprojects as part
developing of information
business system
artifacts during science analytics
a business [7]. Therefore, we
approach.
propose a Design Science Research process for developing business artifacts during a business analytics approach.

* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: mihaela.muntean@e-uvt.ro
* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: mihaela.muntean@e-uvt.ro

1877-0509 © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0)
Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the The 8th International Conference on Information Technology and
Quantitative Management (ITQM 2020 & 2021)
10.1016/j.procs.2022.01.078
638 Mihaela Muntean et al. / Procedia Computer Science 199 (2022) 637–642
Mihaela Muntean et al./ Procedia Computer Science 00 (2021) 000–000

During the DSR process a sequence of decisions are made [8]. According to Filip (2012), they seek to choose
“the most adequate alternatives concerning several critical aspects, such as system orientation, composition of
the team, method to be adopted, and IT&C tools to be utilized, resources to be allocated”.
The final business artifacts are the result of a collaborative decision-making process that implies the
design/development team and the clients. Main decision points occur at the start and end of each phase and
activity within a phase of the DSR process (Figure 1).

2. Design Science Research process for defining business artifacts

Our demarche is focused on designing and developing data models and visualizations that are used in business
analysis initiated in a Business Analytics (BA) framework. The DSR process involves several phases, which
contain a design & development stage and an evaluation stage of the artifacts developed in that phase. The BA
value chain is formed with artifacts developed from each other in an evolutionary process.
BA framework implies the following processing stages: selection of data sources; the attainment of necessary
data; pre-processing data for integration into the initial data model; the attainment of the final model based on
the addition of calculations, measures, indicators; analysis execution through intelligent data visualization and
analytic tools. Initial, intermediate and final artifacts are theoretically substantiated using BA and DSR
methodology-specific terms [9].

Fig. 1 Design Science Research process for developing business artifacts [9]

The DSR process begins with problem identification and motivation, and setting the objectives of the solution.
The business artifacts go through several phases of development. In each phase of development, activities like
design, development and evaluation conduct to an output in form of initial, intermediate and final artifacts.
The DSR process introduced in Figure 1 is an artifactual process, but also a social process. The process
requires the collaboration of designers/developers and end users, who are the information consumers, e.g.
common business users at operational level, or key users at different decision levels. The process of developing
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Mihaela Muntean et al./ Procedia Computer Science 00 (2021) 000–000

the business artifacts is a “set of problem-solving and decision-making activities” [10]. Decision points sustain
the DSR process; they coordinate and synchronize the work of all implied actors.
The DSR process of the business artifacts has three pillars [10]: information flow, development process and
decision process (Table 1).

Table 1. Drivers for decision-oriented DSR process [10]

Topic Drivers for decision-oriented process
Information flow Provide clear goals and objectives for the business artifacts
Provide up-to-date information about process and tasks
Provide sufficient information for decision-making
Development Provide an awareness of the development process
process Recognize the context of activities and tasks
The development process of the business artifacts must be flexible
The process must support and guide the work
Regular checkpoints to obtain feedback and status, and to
synchronize the work
Decision-making Provide decision-making awareness
Provide acceptance criteria for the business artifacts
The process should have regular reviews
Clearly define decision points to control the DSR process

The theoretical approach was applied to a case study regarding the analysis of clean energy data, a determinant
of global sustainability. Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) aims to "ensure access to affordable, reliable,
sustainable and modern energy for al”. Clean and affordable energy indicators have been introduced in the data
model, generating both metadata (including definition, relevance, and calculation explanation, also data sources
inventory) and data values over the last decade for Romania. Data visualizations are deploying the data model
identifying positive and negative aspects, causal factors that led to these results and making predictions for the
next years. Data model and visualizations can easily be translated to another country by choosing the specific
initial data sources.
Business artifacts combine both data and process aspects. In the BA framework, different aspects of the
business processes are incorporated in the data model and further in various data visualizations [11]. Data
visualizations use natural language processing, machine-learning-driven tools to understand better the business
context, to predict the evolution and to design strategies

3. Developing business artifacts

Our demarche is focused on data model and visualizations. Depending on the business needs and the necessary
data visualizations, the data model can be a flat model, a master/detail model or a dimensional model [12]. The
flat model contains one data set with a uniform format, and there are no structures for indexing or recognizing
relationships between data. The master-detail model is usually applied to transactional data. A one-to-many
relationship between the master and the detail entity is settled.
 Mihaela Muntean et al./ Procedia Computer Science 00 (2021) 000–000
640 Mihaela Muntean et al. / Procedia Computer Science 199 (2022) 637–642

Fig. 2 Data model

The dimensional data model is “a subject-oriented, integrated, time-variant, and nonvolatile collection of data
in support of decision-making”. According to Kimball, R. (2002), “by organizing information into fact and
dimension tables, we store as little data as possible while maintaining consistency and data integrity“ [13]. Fact
and dimension tables are defined as following: select the business process; declare the grain; identify the
dimensions; identify the facts.
Most business analyzes are based on indicators. Although multidimensional modeling is specific to BA
approaches, we propose a master-detail model for the data model artifact (Figure 3).

Fig. 3 Business artifact. Data model

A master table contains the metadata about the indicators, e.g. indicator Romanian name, indicator English
name, definition, scope, calculation formula, and calculation explanation, unit of measure, aggregation level,
required data, and data sources (Figure 3). For each indicator, the values over a period (e.g. multi-annual values)
are stored into a detail table. The initial data model is enriched with additional columns, measures and key
performance indicators (KPI). All these information are added to the detail tables and the implementation depends
on the BA technology.
Data visualizations as information artifacts do not just simply display data from the model. Depending on
the BA technology, after gathering the data with a query, e.g. Structured Query Language (SQL), a proprietary
language, e.g. data Analysis Expression (DAX), is used to model and visualize data. The main goal of data
visualization is “to make it easier to identify patterns, trends and outliers in large data sets, Big data [9]. This is
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Mihaela Muntean et al./ Procedia Computer Science 00 (2021) 000–000

possible thanks to the analytic capabilities of the data visualization controls. They can contribute to develop the
data model (Figure 4). Considering e.g. a scatter control that performs a clustering analysis, in the data model a
column containing the cluster index will be generated.

Fig. 4 Business artifacts. From data visualization to data model

The business objects are designed to improve the business context. BA approaches are connected to decision-
making processes. They are meant to support and improve a decision context.

4. Conclusions

The problems in DSR are design problems. The goal is to design something useful, while the research method
is the design cycle. We agree with Wieringa (2014) on the fact that "design science is the design and investigation
of artifacts in context”. Two approaches can be developed: “to design an artifact to improve a problem context”
or “to answer knowledge questions about the artifact in context”.
Based on relevant theoretical and practical approaches of DSR found in literature (March & Story, 2008;
Venable & Baskerville; 2012) we can conclude that DSR is now an accepted approach to research in the
information systems discipline, consensus on the methodology of DSR has yet to be achieved.
Our initiative targeted Business Analytics and the BA tools used in advanced data analysis. Using Design
Science Research, we propose a methodological framework for a DSR process suitable for Business
Analytics. Decision-making aspects of the DSR process have been highlighted. Theoretical considerations on
business artifacts are transposed into a case study regarding SDG7 analysis, where the entire DSR process was
implemented. Proper business artifacts have been designed: data model and visualizations to support the desired
business analysis. This paper is a continuation of the research introduced in a recent paper by the authors.

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Mihaela Muntean et al./ Procedia Computer Science 00 (2021) 000–000

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