Abstract

Design science research (DSR) intervenes in sociotechnical systems through artifacts and prescriptive knowledge that can strengthen or undermine values such as autonomy and dignity. Yet the information systems field lacks a method-compatible approach for deriving and applying ethical principles (EPs) that address the resulting value tensions across diverse DSR contexts. We address this gap with a toolkit comprising three components. At its core is a framework that uses reflective equilibrium to derive EPs grounded in moral philosophy. The framework operates across two interdependent DSR domains: dispositions, which orient ethical judgment, and interventions, which guide ethical conduct. Each EP is stated as a prescriptive imperative constrained by a proscriptive boundary and mapped to core DSR lifecycle phases. While the framework can accommodate diverse normative traditions, we instantiate it here with Kant’s Kingdom of Ends to derive three disposition-centered EPs and three corresponding intervention-centered EPs, each aimed at upholding the autonomy and dignity of all affected stakeholders. To make the EPs actionable, we offer two calibrated implementation paths. The baseline protocol supports routine projects through lightweight checks and a minimal trace at key decision points. The integrative application is reserved for high-stakes initiatives where harms may be severe, irreversible, or widely distributed. Together, these components make value commitments and trade-offs explicit, contestable, and revisable in DSR.

DOI

10.17705/1jais.01026

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