Software Design Science Research Program

This research program aims to improve software development methods, tools and practices by studying designers and their projects using a medley of qualitative, quantitative and conceptual research methods. As software system complexity renders inadequate the majority of design and project management methods, this research involves designing new tools and practices specifically tailored to complex software projects. This program began with descriptive and explanatory research the revealed a theory-practice disconnect in software development. The next step is prescriptive research, beginning with overcoming cognitive biases in design project participants.

Key Publications

  1. Ralph, P. (2010).  Comparing Two Software Design Process Theories. In R. Winter, J. L. Zhao and S. Aier (Eds.): Global Perspectives on Design Science Research (LNCS 6105): Proceedings of the 5fth International Conference, DESRIST 2010, St. Gallen, Switzerland, June, pp. 61-76. Springer-Verlag.
  2. Ralph, P. and Wand, Y. (2009). A Proposal for a Formal Definition of the Design Concept. In Lyytinen, K., Loucopoulos, P., Mylopoulos, J., and Robinson, W., editors, Design Requirements Workshop (LNBIP 14), pp. 103-136. Springer-Verlag.

If you really can’t get enough of my writing then you are welcome to read my PhD dissertation: Fundamentals of Software Design Science.

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