method-engine

Orchestration Log: When this skill is activated, append a log entry to outputs/orchestration_log.md:

### Skill Activation: Method Engine
**Timestamp:** [current date/time]
**Actor:** AI Agent (method-engine)
**Input:** [brief description of the methodology request]
**Output:** [brief description of what was produced — e.g., "DSR method section drafted with 3 evaluation criteria"]

Method Engine

Method Selection Guide

Decision Tree

What is your primary research goal?
│
├─ "I want to map what the literature says" 
│   → Systematic Literature Review (Section A)
│
├─ "I want to understand a phenomenon in depth"
│   → Qualitative Study (Section B)
│   ├─ Single context, deep → Single Case Study
│   ├─ Multiple contexts, comparison → Multiple Case Study  
│   ├─ Build new theory from data → Grounded Theory / Gioia
│   └─ Analyze text/documents systematically → Content Analysis (Mayring)
│
├─ "I want to test hypotheses / measure relationships"
│   → Quantitative Study (Section C)
│   ├─ Complex model with latent variables → SEM (PLS or CB)
│   ├─ Simpler relationships → Regression
│   └─ Experimental comparison → Experiment / RCT (Section F)
│
├─ "I want to build something (tool, framework, model)"
│   → Design Science Research (Section D)
│
├─ "I want to combine approaches"
│   → Mixed Methods (Section E)
│
├─ "I want to improve practice through iterative intervention"
│   → Action Research (Section G)
│
├─ "I want to understand culture, practices, or lived experience"
│   → Ethnography (Section H)
│
├─ "I want structured expert consensus on a complex issue"
│   → Delphi Study (Section I)
│
└─ "I want to model and test scenarios computationally"
    → Simulation (Section J)

---

Section A: Systematic Literature Review

Method Section Template (ready to adapt):

3. Research Methodology

We conducted a systematic literature review following the guidelines of 
[vom Brocke et al. (2009, 2015) / Webster & Watson (2002) / Kitchenham & 
Charters (2007) / PRISMA 2020 (Page et al., 2021)]. This approach is 
appropriate because [justification: need to synthesize a growing but 
fragmented body of knowledge / field is maturing and needs stock-taking / 
practical guidance requires evidence synthesis].

3.1 Search Strategy

We searched [N] electronic databases: Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex, CrossRef, 
[and arXiv for preprints / and AIS eLibrary for IS-specific venues]. 
The search was conducted in [month/year] using the following query terms:

  [("generative AI" OR "generative artificial intelligence" OR "large language 
  model*" OR "LLM" OR "GPT" OR "foundation model*") AND ("enterprise" OR 
  "organization*" OR "business" OR "implementation" OR "adoption")]

  [("AI agent*" OR "autonomous agent*" OR "agentic AI") AND ("organization*" 
  OR "enterprise" OR "business process" OR "implementation")]

The search was limited to publications from [year] to [year], in 
[English / English and German].

3.2 Selection Criteria

Table [N] summarizes our inclusion and exclusion criteria.

| ID | Criterion | Rationale |
|----|-----------|-----------|
| IC1 | Peer-reviewed journal article or conference paper | Quality assurance |
| IC2 | Focuses on [topic] in organizational context | Scope alignment |
| IC3 | Published between [year] and [year] | Recency |
| IC4 | Available in English [or German] | Accessibility |
| EC1 | Purely technical (no organizational dimension) | Out of scope |
| EC2 | Editorial, book review, or abstract-only | Insufficient depth |
| EC3 | Duplicate publication | Avoid double-counting |

3.3 Search and Screening Process

Figure [N] presents the PRISMA flow diagram of our search and selection process. 
The initial search yielded [N] records across all databases. After removing 
[N] duplicates, [N] records were screened based on title and abstract, of 
which [N] were excluded. The remaining [N] articles were assessed in full text, 
resulting in [N] studies included in the final synthesis.

[Forward and backward citation tracking (snowballing) on the [N] most-cited 
included studies identified an additional [N] relevant papers, bringing the 
total to [N] studies.]

3.4 Data Extraction and Analysis

From each included study, we extracted: [list categories: research question, 
theoretical lens, methodology, sample/context, key findings, limitations, 
and contribution type].

We synthesized findings using a concept-centric approach (Webster & Watson, 2002), 
organizing results in a concept matrix that maps studies against key themes 
identified through iterative reading and coding.