IT for Creativity in Problem Formulation

摘要

Creativity is fostered by distributed cognitive activity as individuals interact with artifacts and with each other, often with the aid of artifacts. In this design science research-in-progress, we describe a software artifact known as Theory Garden that was developed to facilitate distributed cognitive activity. We detail an experimental process through which we are assessing the potential for this artifact to facilitate creative outcomes in the context of problem formulation. The experiment involves two different phases: one that addresses managerial problem definition, and one that deals with the requirements processes of software development teams. We conclude with potential implications of this research, should we find evidence that Theory Garden software does support more creative outcomes.