Applying Soft System Methodology (SSM) into the Design Science: Conceptual modeling of Community based E-museum (ComE) Framework

The community based e-museum is a socio-technical solution that intends to empower the community in the preservation and dissemination of cultural heritage knowledge through efforts of knowledge sharing. In the development of this socio-technical solution, the Community based E-museum (ComE) Framework is created to address the social and technical views on museum processes and human activity system with regards to preservation of authentic cultural knowledge. Although the Design Science Research (DSR) has gained significant acceptance within the design work on technology solution, it lacks the socio technical concern which is a vital component in the conceptualization of ComE. To address this gap the Soft System Methodology (SSM) is applied. This paper reports on the work that integrates the application of the SSM with the DSR approach in the creation of the conceptual model of ComE. This work contributes to the literature on the integration of technology (hard) systems and human (soft) systems and will be a useful basis for future socio-technical solution conceptualization, design and development.