This doctoral seminar, offered as part of the International Conference on Digital Economy (ICDEc), is designed specifically for early-stage researchers embarking on their PhD journey. Its purpose is to inspire and guide participants in transforming their scientific curiosity into publishable, high-quality research papers. Writing a great paper is not simply about following formal conventions; it is about engaging in the intellectual joy of discovery and sharing. Every meaningful paper begins with a spark — a moment of epiphany — when an idea, question, or insight crystallizes in the researcher’s mind. The seminar invites participants to reconnect with that moment, to recognize that the process of writing is itself an act of inquiry, reflection, and contribution to scientific knowledge.

The seminar begins by exploring the essence of what makes a “great” scientific paper. Beyond technical rigor, great papers embody clarity, coherence, and originality; they tell a compelling story about the researcher’s quest to understand or improve the world. Participants will learn how to refine their scientific curiosity into sharp, well-formulated research questions that address real gaps in the literature. In doing so, the session encourages participants to see research not as an obligation but as a creative and joyful pursuit — a process that unites imagination, method, and rigor. An important focus of the seminar is on methodological awareness. Different epistemological and methodological approaches will be discussed, including design science research, action design research, design thinking, and case study research. Participants will learn how to choose and justify a methodology that aligns with their research question, and how to combine design and evaluation activities into coherent and credible research contributions. Particular attention will be paid to the role of validation — demonstrating the reliability of data, the robustness of findings, and the relevance of outcomes to both theory and practice. In design-oriented research, for instance, validation may take the form of iterative build-and-evaluate cycles, while in case study research, it may involve triangulation, multiple sources of evidence, and transparent reporting.

The seminar will also guide participants through the practical necessities of paper construction. A well-structured paper typically unfolds through a logical narrative — from introduction and related work to method, results, discussion, and conclusion — each section serving a distinct rhetorical purpose. Participants will reflect on how to engage readers from the first line of the abstract, how to formulate a strong argument, and how to make their contribution explicit. The session will emphasize writing as a process of iteration: good papers are rewritten, refined, and strengthened through feedback and critical self-review.

In addition, the seminar acknowledges the transformative role of today’s generative AI tools in the research and writing process. Rather than viewing GenAI as a threat to originality, participants will be encouraged to embrace it as a creative and cognitive partner — one that can assist in structuring ideas, refining arguments, improving language, and even stimulating new perspectives. When used responsibly, with academic integrity and critical awareness, GenAI can enhance the quality and clarity of scholarly writing, freeing researchers to focus on higher-order thinking, conceptual development, and scientific contribution. The session thus advocates an open, reflective, and ethical engagement with these emerging technologies as part of the evolving craft of research communication.

Ultimately, this doctoral seminar at ICDEc aims not merely to teach the mechanics of academic writing, but to nurture a deeper appreciation of scientific craftsmanship. It reminds emerging scholars that the true reward of writing is not only publication, but the joy of shaping ideas, making discoveries visible, and contributing to a shared intellectual endeavor. By combining curiosity, method, and clear expression, participants will be equipped to transform their research journeys into papers that resonate, inspire, and endure.

Alan R. Hevner, Salvatore T. March, Jinsoo Park, Sudha Ram (2004). Design Science in Information Systems Research. MIS Quarterly, vol. 28, no. 1. https://doi.org/10.2307/25148625
Maung K. Sein, Ola Henfridsson, Sandeep Purao, Matti Rossi, Rikard Lindgren (2011). Action Design Research. MIS Quarterly, vol. 35, no. 2. https://doi.org/10.2307/23043488
Tuure Tuunanen, Robert Winter, Jan vom Brocke (2024). Dealing with Complexity in Design Science Research: A Methodology Using Design Echelons. MIS Quarterly, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 427–458.
Fred D. Davis (1989). Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, and User Acceptance of Information Technology. MIS Quarterly, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 319-340. https://doi.org/10.2307/249008
Viswanath Venkatesh, Michael G. Morris, Gordon B. Davis and Fred D. Davis (2003). User Acceptance of Information Technology: Toward a Unified View. MIS Quarterly, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 425-4 https://doi.org/10.2307/30036540
Robert K. Yin (2018). Case Study Research and Applications - Design and Methods, 6xt edition. SAGE Publications.
https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/case-study-research-and-applications/book250150
https://ebooks.umu.ac.ug/librarian/books-file/Case%20Study%20Research%20and%20Applications.pdf
Barbara Kitchenham, Stuart M. Charters Charter (2007). Guidelines for performing Systematic Literature Reviews in Software Engineering https://www.researchgate.net/publication/302924724/
Keegan McBride, Yuri Misnikov, Dirk Draheim, Discussing The Foundations for Interpretivist Digital Government Research. In (Y. Charalabidis, G.V. Pereira, L.S. Flak, eds.): Scientific Foundations of Digital Governance. Public Administration and Information Technology, vol. 38. Springer, 2021. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-92945-9_6