TY - CHAP

T1 - The Relevance of Design Features

T2 - 20th International Conference on Design Science Research in Information Systems and Technology, DESRIST 2025

AU - Strohmann, Timo

AU - Khosrawi-Rad, Bijan

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Design Science Research (DSR) aims to create rigorous, innovative artifacts and produce actionable design knowledge, but translating high-level prescriptions like design principles into tangible implementations remains challenging. We position design features as mid-level constructs that operationalize abstract guidance into concrete functionalities. Drawing on a systematic review of 34 DSR studies contributing 233 design features, we show how inconsistent characterizations complicate their reuse. To address this gap, we propose a two-dimensional framework across six artifact layers and three levels of abstraction, clarifying how design features link theoretical prescriptions to real-world instantiations while retaining flexibility. Building on these insights, we offer guidelines for formulating design features to enhance traceability, foster reusability, and support iterative refinement. We then illustrate their application in one case. By systematically documenting design features with clarity and precision, DSR scholars can more effectively bridge abstract knowledge and practical development, ultimately strengthening the rigor and impact of DSR.

AB - Design Science Research (DSR) aims to create rigorous, innovative artifacts and produce actionable design knowledge, but translating high-level prescriptions like design principles into tangible implementations remains challenging. We position design features as mid-level constructs that operationalize abstract guidance into concrete functionalities. Drawing on a systematic review of 34 DSR studies contributing 233 design features, we show how inconsistent characterizations complicate their reuse. To address this gap, we propose a two-dimensional framework across six artifact layers and three levels of abstraction, clarifying how design features link theoretical prescriptions to real-world instantiations while retaining flexibility. Building on these insights, we offer guidelines for formulating design features to enhance traceability, foster reusability, and support iterative refinement. We then illustrate their application in one case. By systematically documenting design features with clarity and precision, DSR scholars can more effectively bridge abstract knowledge and practical development, ultimately strengthening the rigor and impact of DSR.

KW - Abstraction

KW - Artifact

KW - Design Feature

KW - Design Knowledge

KW - Design Principle

KW - Design Science Research

KW - Design Theory

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105007989962&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-031-93976-1_8

DO - 10.1007/978-3-031-93976-1_8

M3 - Article in conference proceedings

AN - SCOPUS:105007989962

SN - 9783031939754

T3 - Lecture Notes in Computer Science

SP - 116

EP - 134

BT - Local Solutions for Global Challenges - 20th International Conference on Design Science Research in Information Systems and Technology, DESRIST 2025, Proceedings

A2 - Chatterjee, Samir

A2 - vom Brocke, Jan

A2 - Anderson, Ricardo

PB - Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland

Y2 - 2 June 2025 through 4 June 2025

ER -