Agile Applicability in Academic Research, Mgr. Filip Svoboda, 14.10.2021
Agile Applicability in Academic Research
Mgr. Filip Svoboda
Presentation agenda
1. Agile introduction
2. Research context definition
3. Problems
4. State-of-the-art
5. Achieved results
6. Aims of future research
Agile Applicability in Academic Research, Mgr. Filip Svoboda, 14.10.2021
̶A work organization paradigm
̶Originated with „Manifesto for Agile Software
Development“, 2001
̶Redefines many focal aspects of previous approaches
̶People, value, customer, change
Agile Applicability in Academic Research, Mgr. Filip Svoboda, 14.10.2021
Agile introduction
People
Agile introduction
̶Foster collaboration, not processes
̶Create environment, where spontaneous communication can thrive
̶Unlock intrinsic potential of knowledge workers
̶Motivate by autonomy, mastery, and purpose (Daniel Pink)
̶ Not by simple positive and negative stimuli, e.g. by money (Taylorist approach)
Agile Applicability in Academic Research, Mgr. Filip Svoboda, 14.10.2021
Change
Agile introduction
̶ Cynefin framework = problem classification
pattern, based on Dave Snowden (1999)
̶ Simple = cause and effect is clear
̶ Best practice realm – e.g. BPM process
̶ Complicated = cause and effect requires analysis
̶ Good practice realm – e.g. Waterfall
̶ Complex = cause and effect visible only in retrospect
̶ Agile realm – e.g. experimentation
̶ Chaotic = cause and effect completely unpredictable
̶ Chaos realm – e.g. COVID-19 emergency
Agile Applicability in Academic Research, Mgr. Filip Svoboda, 14.10.2021
Paradigms and frameworks
Agile introduction
̶Agile = a paradigm
̶ Contains principles and practices
̶Framework = minimal set of prescriptions
̶Methodology = maximal set of prescriptions
Agile Applicability in Academic Research, Mgr. Filip Svoboda, 14.10.2021
AGILE
Scrum
Kanban
Lean
Extreme
Programming
SAFe
…
Academia
Research context definition
̶Agile in the industry is well-known and well-tested
̶Many new context are being explored (such as general IT, marketing, HR,
sales, public management, ...)
̶Research and academic environments are not exception
̶Many laboratories and research groups are managed ad-hoc; research is by
definition unpredictable (and thus change-based)
Agile Applicability in Academic Research, Mgr. Filip Svoboda, 14.10.2021
Academia
Problems
̶Ad-hoc management
̶High stress on central figures
̶Lack of transparency in processes, people, work products, status, ...
̶Low teamwork and inadequate synergy finding
̶Managing academic culture, management by KPIs, compliance
̶Scaling
Agile Applicability in Academic Research, Mgr. Filip Svoboda, 14.10.2021
State-of-the-art
̶Systematic literature reviews are missing
̶Research body mostly composed of a large number of ad-hoc case studies
̶Six studies analyzed in detail in my Master thesis (Americas, Europe, Asia)
Agile Applicability in Academic Research, Mgr. Filip Svoboda, 14.10.2021
Methods
Achieved results - LabSeS
̶Questionnaire for lab members (first round, May 2020)
̶ Likert scales 1-5
̶ Questions about working on final thesis and engaging with laboratory
̶Process design based on results and observance
̶Process implementation
̶Questionnaire for lab members (second round, April 2021)
̶ Hypothesis testing
Agile Applicability in Academic Research, Mgr. Filip Svoboda, 14.10.2021
Agile Process in LabSeS
Achieved results
̶Criteria: simplicity, motivating, decrease stress on faculty
̶Biweekly Sync
̶ Lab news, Scrum, smaller-group discussions
̶Technical discussions on-demand
̶Semestral Retrospective, Semestral Thesis Presentation
̶Scrum Master role
Agile Applicability in Academic Research, Mgr. Filip Svoboda, 14.10.2021
Results
Achieved results
̶Differences between May 2020 (n=5, 70 %) and April 2021 (n=7-8, 80 %)
̶Better median achieved in 12 out of 13 measured questions
̶Statistically significantly better distribution in 7 out of 13 measured questions
̶ Quality of interactions with supervisor and his availability
̶ Subjective evaluation of thesis quality, productivity, motivation, and overall feeling of writing
̶Statistically significantly more inclination to write papers about Smart Cities
and to represent the laboratory
Agile Applicability in Academic Research, Mgr. Filip Svoboda, 14.10.2021
In the laboratory and specific process
Aims of future research
̶Publication of results (European Management Journal?)
̶Pulling customers (municipalities) into the process
̶Uncovering synergies among laboratory members
̶Implementing the process in another laboratory for control
Agile Applicability in Academic Research, Mgr. Filip Svoboda, 14.10.2021
Overall
Aims of future research
̶Systematic literature review
̶ Focus on element enumeration
̶ Focus on framework classification
̶Correlation studies
̶Standardization
̶General (parametrized / decision-tree) process design
̶Empirical verification
Agile Applicability in Academic Research, Mgr. Filip Svoboda, 14.10.2021