Pattern-based design research in enterprise architecture management

Enterprise architecture (EA) management represents an evolving discipline in the curriculum of information systems research. Research in the area of EA management is often conducted in close cooperation with industry partners, who on the one hand provide input in terms of current challenges and on the other hand are more than willing to apply and evaluate the research findings. Therefore, researchers in the area of EA management applying the design science paradigm are confronted with the challenge to make theoretical contributions which additionally can be applied and help to solve current and anticipated problems in practice. In this paper we present the so-called pattern-based design research (PDR) an iterative design research method to overcome this problem by enabling researchers to theorize and learn from the intervention at the industry partner(s) while performing rigorous and relevant design science research. We illustrate the applicability of PDR by discussing our research projects of the last 7 years in the area of EA management. We conclude that PDR provides a suitable research method that can be applied in the area of EA and discuss further challenges from the perspective of practitioners and researchers.