Discovering the Significance of Scientific Design Practice: New Science Wrapped in Old Science?

This paper aims at discussing and defining what it is that makes design science research significant. First it reviews the values and processes of old science and how this attacks complexity through analysis. It then shows how new science attacks complexity through synthesis. Then the paper argues that new science is burdened and limited in realizing its potential when cloaking itself in old science wrappers. This point is then demonstrated by two cases. The paper discusses how new science constitutes its significance. This discussion translates an old science framework of theory significance uses the same two cases to illustrate the framework. The paper ultimately aims to provide a better groundwork on which design science research can realize its fundamental potential as new science.