In this paper, we propose Grounded Design – a particular design research (DR) approach rooted in a practice-theoretical tradition. It assesses the quality of information technology (IT) design through evaluation of emerging changes in social practices, which result from the appropriation and use of IT artifacts. The paper starts with a systematic analysis of the reasons for persistent limitations of traditional information systems DR, specifically in coping with problems of contingency and self-referentiality. Following this critique, the principles of Grounded Design are presented. Grounded Design is applied in case studies where we reconstruct the social practices observed before and during the design and appropriation of innovative IT artifacts. We call these context-specific research endeavors ‘design case studies.’ In conducting these case studies, Grounded Design builds upon well-established research methods such as ethnographical field studies, participatory design and action research. To support the transferability of its situated findings, Grounded Design suggests documenting increasing numbers of design case studies to create an extended, comparative knowledge base. Comparing cases allows for the emergence of bottom-up concepts dealing with the design and appropriation of innovative IT artifacts in social practice.

中文翻译：

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扎根设计——一种行为学的 IS 研究视角

在本文中，我们提出了扎根设计——一种植根于实践理论传统的特殊设计研究 (DR) 方法。它通过评估社会实践中新出现的变化来评估信息技术 (IT) 设计的质量，这些变化源于对 IT 工件的挪用和使用。本文首先系统分析了传统信息系统 DR 持续存在局限性的原因，特别是在应对偶然性和自我参照问题方面。在此批判之后，提出了接地设计的原则。扎根设计应用于案例研究，我们重建在创新 IT 工件的设计和挪用之前和期间观察到的社会实践。我们将这些特定于上下文的研究工作称为“设计案例研究”。' 在进行这些案例研究时，扎根设计建立在完善的研究方法之上，例如人种学实地研究、参与式设计和行动研究。为了支持其所处环境的可转移性，Grounded Design 建议记录越来越多的设计案例研究，以创建一个扩展的、比较的知识库。比较案例允许出现自下而上的概念，这些概念涉及社会实践中创新 IT 工件的设计和挪用。