Managing Risk and Performance in Complex Enterprises

PhD Call 2015

Introduction:

To date, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has funded PhDs across a number of technical areas. The focus of this call for PhD level research isthe area ofManaging Risk and Performance in Complex Enterprises.We encourage applications from UK institutions with leading academics, research groups or research centres in this subject area.

Ourintention is to fund up to fourPhD studentshipsto commence in the first semester of the 2015/6 Academic Year. Whilst we are prepared to fully fund each of these studentships,contributionsfrom other sources of studentship support from the host university (e.g. from the research councils, institutional funds, other funding sources) is highly desirable.

Applicantsshould refer to the assessment criteria (defined later in this document) so that they fully understand how proposals will be assessed.

Key Dates:

  • Closing date for applications 10 July 2015
  • Funding decision by 24 July 15
  • The projects will need to commence by no later than March 2016.

Research Questions:

Proposals for doctoral-level research are invited from a wide range of disciplines (including but not limited to social sciences, systems engineering, complexity science and operational research) that will make significant contributions to one or more of the below research questions:

1. How can complex enterprisesmake better use of industry partners to deliver enabling functions and services?

Increasing use is being made of industry partners in the delivery of critical enabling functions and services (such as information systems and estate management) across government. MOD is keen to understand how operational flexibility can be maintained, how excess contractual complexity can be avoided and to what extent is success/failure is determined by appropriate incentivisation in the context of working more closely with industry partners.

2. How can complex enterprises sustain the capability to oversee the delivery of industry partners?

The governmenthas recognised the need to sustain capabilitiesin ten core areas – commercial, communications, corporate finance, digital, finance, human resources, internal audit, legal, major project delivery and property [[1]]– in order to oversee the delivery of industrial partners. MOD is keen to understand how such an ‘intelligent customer’ status can be maintained over the life of support contracts andhow it can be scaled-up in order to take these services back if necessary. In particular, MOD is interested in the role that information technology might play in reducing knowledge, skills and expertise fade over time.

3. How can complex enterprises better incentivise action that aligns with the goals of the enterprise?

The MOD is a complex enterprise made up of a number of distinct organisations (including Head Office, Front Line Commands, Defence Equipment and Support, Defence Infrastructure Organisation, and Defence Business Services) that are staffed by a mix of military personnel and civil servants and supported by industrial partners. MOD is keen to understand how incentives – and other mechanisms – can be used to align the actions of these organisations and their constituent staff against the needs of the enterprise.

Research Exploitation:

Each project will be assigned a MOD Technical Partner who will provide the interface between the research and the MOD stakeholder community and who will develop potential routes to exploitation (including across government).

During the lifetime of the successful PhD projects there will be an expectation for the research to be presented at engagement opportunities organised by MOD. During these events each student would have the opportunity to present their work to the relevant stakeholder community.

Assessment Criteria:

Proposals will be assessed using four criteria under two headings. All applications must provide the necessary information requested in the application form.

Assessment criteria for technical relevance and quality:

All applications will be evaluated for technical relevance and quality, prior to being considered further according to the academic/research groups or research centre and linkages criteria.

Assessment Area / Criteria used to evaluate the proposal
Scientific quality and innovation / The proposal will be evaluated on the following:
  • The contribution of the proposed research to the defined research question(s).
  • The exploitation pathway to impact for the proposed research (inc. timeliness).
  • Whether the proposed research is novel and/or innovative.
  • Whether the proposed research is ambitious, adventurous, and transformative.
  • Whether the approach is realistic and achievable.

Academic staff and resources / The proposal will be evaluated on the following:
  • Whether the knowledge, skills and experience of the supervisor(s)aligns with the topic.
  • The proposed time commitment of the supervisor(s).
  • The additional resources available within the wider research group / centre

Assessment criteria for academic/research groups or research centre and linkages

Only proposals that score highly against the technical relevance and quality criteria will be considered for funding. These additional criteria will be used to further assess proposals that are found to be of high technical relevance and quality.

Therefore, proposal(s) submitted by the research group/centre should include evidence of their national and international standing, details of how engagement between the research group/centre and the MOD would realise wider benefits for MOD and/or UK government and a description of how the proposal leverages and/or builds wider linkages.

Assessment Area / Criteria used to evaluate the proposal
Academic/Research Groups or Research Centre / The proposal will be evaluated on the following:
  • The evidence provided of the standing of the research of the group or centre, including evidence of significant research income and their contribution to the UK and (potentially international) research landscape.
  • The wider benefits thatMODand/or UK government would realiseby funding research at the particular institution.

Linkages / The proposal will be evaluated on the following:
  • The existence of any wider linkages other funding bodies and/or research groups/centres at other institutions.
  • The value of these linkages to MOD and/or UK government.

Further Information:

Within the PhD proposal(s) submitted by the research group/centre, the applicant must provide details of how the group/centre can contribute to leading the thinking on the specific theme proposed and how further engagement can be fostered between the research group/centre and the MOD.

Further terms and conditions will be made available, on request.

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[1] Forging ahead with the functions, John Manzoni, 16 April 2015 (