PhD seminar A case study of the mentoring approach in a SPIKE company By Finn Olav Bjørnson

Contents Background Study Results Workshop Future plans Discussion

Background Focus in Trondheim companies Improved internal knowledge management RUP adaptation for use as a process guide Develop method framework and implement in EPG SPIKE project Research project funded by NFR Participants: Abelia Innovasjon SINTEF, NTNU, UiO / Simula Research Laboratory partners in Norwegian ICT industry 3 industrial partners in Trondheim

The study so far The mentoring approach to knowledge sharing in a small IT company. Litterature study ACM, IEEE, EBSCO Interviews 6 interviews Interview guide Recorded and transcribed Analyzed Workshop with results

Results from initial interviews Identified positive feelings about mentoring Identified challenges in mentoring Current learning from mentoring seems to be single looped Several approaches to mentoring detected, informal and formal Mentor seems to be a mixture of different roles

Workshop results Identified elements that should be part of the mentoring approach. Defined separation between mentoring, QA and sponsor (fadderordning) Identified a 3-way split of the mentoring approach Identifed how mentoring could be arranged to promote better learning

Workshop results (cont.)

Future work Finish litterature study Final workshop to agree on new approach to mentoring ”Business as usual” Observe new mentoring approach, does it promote better internal knowledge transfer?

Discussion Is this computer science? How does this theme fit in our definition of Software Engineering? Ideas for future work?