Developing the Design Science Research Method Based on the Epistemological Approach of Foundationalism

Document Type : علمی - پژوهشی

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Decision Sciences and Complex Systems, Faculty of Islamic Studies and Management, Imam Sadiq University, Tehran, Iran

2 Master’s Student, Department of Islamic Studies and Business Management, Faculty of Islamic Studies and Management, Imam Sadiq University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Extended Abstract
 
Introduction and Objectives: Epistemological foundationalism, by emphasizing basic beliefs and logical inference, provides a coherent framework for systematic knowledge production in the humanities and social sciences. This approach is particularly significant in addressing epistemic and value conflicts in interdisciplinary research, especially in domains where normative values play a central role. However, the lack of systematic research methods capable of operationalizing foundationalist principles poses a major challenge.
Design Science Research (DSR)—as a problem-driven and solution-oriented methodology—has strong potential to operationalize foundationalism, yet it requires epistemological reformulation. The present study aims to develop a Design Science Research method grounded in epistemological foundationalism, integrating these two paradigms to construct a coherent framework for Islamic human sciences, particularly Islamic management.
This method seeks to strengthen theoretical and practical coherence by combining value-centeredness with problem-centeredness, thereby reducing epistemic conflicts in the design of interdisciplinary models and frameworks. Specifically designed for foundational research in Islamic management, where Islamic values and epistemic principles are central, this study introduces and elaborates the proposed method, demonstrates its applicability through examples, and opens a new pathway for systematic knowledge production in Islamic human sciences.
Methodology: This research adopts a critical-analytical approach toward existing Design Science methodologies to develop a foundationalist design-based research method.
First, prior studies in Islamic management that adopted epistemological foundationalism were reviewed, and their general mechanisms were extracted. Next, conventional Design Science approaches were critically examined to identify compatible elements for the development of the new method. This process required an in-depth critique of the explicit and implicit assumptions underlying DSR to build an internally consistent framework.
To ensure validity, three focus groups were convened—one to evaluate the research process and two to assess the final outputs. To enhance methodological rigor, a reflexive feedback process was implemented, wherein all design decisions and their justifications were documented and shared with the focus groups for review. This ensured transparency and facilitated iterative refinement.
Data were collected and analyzed using qualitative methods such as systematic literature review, semi-structured interviews, and qualitative content analysis. Techniques like stakeholder analysis and strategic assumption surfacing were applied to ensure alignment with Islamic values and strengthen methodological coherence.
This integrative approach ultimately yielded a systematic framework consistent with foundationalist epistemology while responsive to the interdisciplinary needs of Islamic management research.
Findings: The study resulted in the development of a Design Science Research method grounded in epistemological foundationalism, offering a novel framework for Islamic human sciences, particularly Islamic management. The proposed method comprises seven interrelated stages:

Identifying problem indicators through stakeholder analysis and assumption mapping.
Diagnosing the layered structure of the problem by engaging empathetically with complexity and contextual domains.
Formulating foundational design axioms via consensus on core values and hierarchical goal-setting.
Data collection and analysis based on foundational principles using qualitative techniques such as interviews and text mining.
Proposing a preliminary artifact grounded in creativity and innovation.
Evaluating and refining the artifact according to foundational principles using soft systems and simulation techniques.
Delivering the final artifact after stakeholder feedback and targeted revisions.

This method ensures responsiveness to the real needs of Islamic management through its problem-centered orientation, and it facilitates consensus on Islamic values through its value-centered foundation, thereby avoiding relativistic pluralism. It enables the design of conceptual models and operational systems applicable to areas such as governance decision-making and organizational transformation.
By combining critical realism with foundationalism, the proposed method reinforces both theoretical and practical coherence, making it particularly suitable for foundational research in Islamic management. Its outcomes include systematic frameworks and applicable models adaptable to various domains of Islamic human sciences.
Discussion and Conclusion: The Design Science Research method based on epistemological foundationalism offers a foundational framework for research in Islamic human sciences—especially Islamic management—that distinguishes it from other approaches such as implication-based research and descriptive systems.
While implication-based approaches are primarily comparative—deriving managerial lessons from existing sources—they remain implicitly shaped by dominant paradigms. In contrast, the proposed method, grounded in foundational principles and inferential structure, allows the design of alternative Islamic management models free from the presuppositions of conventional management thought.
Descriptive systems, due to their non-prescriptive nature, lack sufficient methodological detail for foundational research. The proposed method, however, provides clear procedural stages and emphasizes both value-centeredness (to foster consensus on Islamic values and avoid pluralistic fragmentation) and problem-centeredness (to ensure responsiveness to real-world managerial needs).
Potential applications include conceptual framework design and implementation systems in domains such as public policy decision-making and organizational management. Nonetheless, limitations include the need for researchers with strong epistemological competence and the complexity of applying the method in multi-agent research settings. Future studies are recommended to explore its application in fields such as public policy, education, and other areas of the Islamic humanities.
Ultimately, this method serves as a bridge between conventional and Islamic management, contributing to the development of interdisciplinary knowledge and providing a systematic framework for the production of both theoretical and practical knowledge.
Acknowledgment: The authors would like to thank the professors and researchers at Imam Sadiq University and Tarbiat Modares University for their participation in the focus groups and their valuable feedback.
Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest related to this research.

Keywords

References

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