Formalizing an empirical model: A way to enhance the communication between users and designers

This paper introduces a formalization of the Data, Information, Tacit and Explicit Knowledge process (DITEK) empirical model. This formalization reduces the gap between empirical and formal worlds, what led us to consider it as an opportunity to enhance the communication between users and designers of digital information systems. Notably, the designer will be aware of the role of the user as a component of the Enterprise´s Information and Knowledge System (EIKS) defined in this paper. We highlight how having two models, empirical and formal, for the same concept can constitute an outline in order (i) to enhance the communication between users and designers of digital information systems, (ii) to regard users as components of the EIKS, and (iii) to promote information systems´ innovative design.