LitBaskets: Supporting Exploratory Literature Searches for the Information Systems Research Community

Conducting exploratory literature searches is essential for theory development but remains difficult in interdisciplinary fields such as Information Systems (IS), where researchers must navigate fragmented and fast-evolving knowledge domains. To address this challenge, we developed and evaluated LitBaskets (www.litbaskets.io), an open-source tool that supports exploratory literature search: an approach that remains less understood and thus lacks appropriate tool support. Using a Design Science Research approach, we derived and validated four design principles that guide the construction of tools for exploratory search. Our findings show that configurable boundaries, iterative refinement, and reusable queries help researchers balance search breadth and focus, supporting problematisation and discovery. The study advances design knowledge for tools that support exploratory literature searches, and offers practical support for scholars seeking to conduct transparent and creative reviews across disciplinary boundaries.