Agile Coaching activity within an Organisational Learning context

About the Project

There are currently many agile coaches and those tasked with mentoring remits within the IT function. Little is known about the involvement and role of agile coaches regards the adoption and deployment of agile methods (Stray et al, 2020) with inconsistent approaches and varying successes (Theobald et al, 2020). This implies that organisations are missing the opportunity to learn from successes and failures in the coaching process.

This project will research how organisations facilitate the learning of agile delivery methods in information systems projects using agile coaches. It will examine leadership issues in agile software delivery, agile coach selection, agile coaching activity and analyse how organisations evaluate the results of their agile methods adoption/improvement endeavours. Overall the aim is to identify the factors shaping the contribution of the agile coach to project success and wider learning.

Academic qualifications

Have, or expect to achieve by the time of start of the studentship a first-class honours degree, or a distinction at master level, ideally in Information Systems, Computing, Software Development or equivalent.

English language requirement

IELTS score must be at least 6.5 (with not less than 6.0 in each of the four components). Other, equivalent qualifications will be accepted. Full details of the University’s policy are available online.

Essential attributes:

• Competent in qualitative research techniques such as interviewing, document analysis and focus groups
• Knowledge of agile project delivery approaches.
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Strong motivation, with evidence of independent research skills relevant to the project
• Good time management
• Only a first-class honours degree, or a distinction at master level in a subject relevant to the PhD project will be considered, or equivalent achievements.

Desirable attributes:

• Practical experience in research or industry will be considered an advantage.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

• Completed application form
• CV
• 2 academic references, using the Postgraduate Educational Reference Form (download)
• Research project outline of 2 pages (list of references excluded). The outline may provide details about:
  1. Background and motivation of the project. The motivation, explaining the importance of the project, should be supported also by relevant literature. You can also discuss the applications you expect for the project results.
  2. Research questions or objectives.
  3. Methodology: types of data to be used, approach to data collection, and data analysis methods.
  4. List of references.

The outline must be created solely by the applicant. Supervisors can only offer general discussions about the project idea without providing any additional support.

• Statement no longer than 1 page describing your motivations and fit with the project.
• Evidence of proficiency in English (if appropriate)

To be considered, the application must use

• the advertised title as project title

For informal enquiries about this PhD project, please contact Dr Pritam Chita - P.Chita@napier.ac.uk