Evaluation in design science: A framework to support project studies in the context of University Research Centres

This paper proposes a discussion of the evaluation of an artefact developed under the Design Science paradigm using the Delphi method. It evaluates the Ecosystem framework of University Research Centres in Project Studies, considering a set of criteria pre-established in the literature. The Delphi method is an evaluation implemented in an electronic platform involving twenty-one participants, among whom were academics, practitioners, and PhD candidates in the field of project management. It reached consensus and stability in two rounds: the results indicate a consensus among the participants in the applicability, novelty, simplicity, completeness, fidelity to modelled phenomena, consistency and internal coherence, scalability, flexibility, interest, elegance, and reusability criteria. Usability was the only criterion that did not attain the predefined percentage of consensus among the participants (70%). Given the framework's characteristics, Delphi participants indicated the need to produce complementary guidelines for its implementation.