The Symbiosis of Design Science Research and Behavioral Science Research

Purpose: The symbiosis of design science research (DSR) and behavioral science research (BSR) in information systems has been elusive. It is necessary for the advancement of both DSR and BSR in particular, and of information systems research and practice in general. A barrier to symbiosis has been the absence of a systemic framework to systematically guide the research in the two streams. Consequently, the attempts at symbiosis have been ad hoc and sporadic. We propose a simple ontological framework to drive symbiosis of the two streams and set an agenda for research. It articulates the many pathways to drive the symbiosis. Approach: An ontological framework is developed from the foundational concepts of DSR and BSR. Four highly influential DSR research papers are then mapped to the framework to analyze the symbiosis of DSR and BSR. Findings: The symbiosis of DSR and BSR is elusive. The influential research in DSR seems to focus on the design science side more than the behavioral science side. Originality: The ontological framework is the first instrument that integrates DSR and BSR in a single conceptual framework. It is also the first effort to critically investigate the symbiosis of the two streams of research.