Bridging the Gap: Analyzing Collaboration Between Practitioners and Researchers Across Different Stages of the Design Science Research Process

Design Science Research (DSR) projects significantly increase the knowledge base while delivering practical results. These projects involve collaboration between practitioners seeking functional solutions and researchers aiming to contribute to knowledge generation. This difference in goals can lead to challenges. To date, there is little research on the collaboration between researchers and practitioners during the different phases of DSR. As the start of a larger research initiative, this paper provides preliminary insights into practitioner-researcher collaborations within DSR projects. The work is structured around four core areas of investigation: first, the project phase in which the collaboration occurs; second, the parties involved; third, the kind of artifact developed; and fourth, the challenges encountered during the collaboration between practitioners and researchers. The aim of this research initiative is to explore these collaborations in depth and to develop implications and innovative procedural models for DSR. This paper represents the first phase of an ongoing research initiative. Preliminary findings suggest that the documentation of these collaborations lacks precision and adequate oversight. The purpose of this study is to highlight the need for further research in this area, with the final goal of establishing a framework to guide future research efforts in practitioner-researcher collaborations.