Understanding the Process of Constructing Scales Inventories in the Process Modelling Domain

Abstract

Empirical research strategies are undisputedly of paramount importance to rigorous and relevant IS research. Employed practices of empirical research in Information Systems, however, are still considered to be problematic. One related problem in this context is the lack of rigorously developed and tested empirical scales inventories that could be used in empirical studies of artefacts relevant to Information Systems. This paper reports on the process of developing research tools for usage in empirical studies of Information Systems artefacts. We use the domain of business process modelling as an example of a relevant IS research domain and report on the development of an scales inventory to measure the various perceptions that individuals may have towards acceptance and continuance of process modelling languages. We describe a multi-stage development approach for scales creation that incorporates feedback from both expert and user perspectives. Our research in progress results in a pre-validated scales inventory that can be used to assist in further empirical studies that study phenomena associated with the business process modelling domain.