Noel Carroll is an Associate Professor in Business Information Systems and a Funded Investigator with Lero, the Research Ireland Centre for Software. Noel received a University of Galway Strategic Fund and founded the Citizen Development Lab at the University of Galway. He was the 2024 AIS Outreach Practice Publication Award recipient which recognise members who successfully transfer research to practitioner audiences in practice-based publications. Noel also recieced the Presidents Award for Research Excellence (Team) in 2022.

Noel is a Senior Editor for MIS Quarterly Executive (MISQe) and has led a number of Special Issues with journals such as the European Journal of Information Systems, MISQe, and the Journal of Software: Evolution and Process.

He previously held various key leadership roles within the J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics. For example, he was the Associate Head of Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA). He was also the Programme Director for the MSc. in Information Systems Management (ISM) and serves on various internal and external committees and boards.

He received his PhD from the University of Limerick in 2012. Noel also held a research post in the Netherlands at Delft University of Technology (Technische Universiteit Delft) in 2008 within the faculty of Technology, Policy and Management (TPM).

Noel enjoys industry engagement and his interests include seeking ways to support organisations in developing digital transformation strategies in software development, digital innovation, and health informatics for multinationals, public service, SMEs, and start-ups.

His principal research expertise on digital transformation and organisational change straddles across three key domains of research: (i) information systems; (ii) health informatics; and (iii) software engineering. He has published in high quality journals and conferences. His research is supported by Science Foundation Ireland grant 13RC2094. He has edited special issues, published, chaired, and reviewed for leading international journals and conferences in his field. He is currently editing a Research Handbook on Digital Transformation and Responsibility (Edward Elgar Publishing).

Noel has completed a Masters in Academic Practice and Diploma in Academic Practice with the Centre for Excellence in Learning & Teaching (CELT) at the University of Galway. Noel has been awarded the Presidents College Teaching Award in 2019 and the Deans Inclusive Teaching Award. He was also nominated for the Presidents Awards for Teaching Excellence 2020 and the Deans Award for Inclusive Teaching (2019 and 2020).

Noel was awarded the Lero Directors prize for Education & Public Engagement in 2022. His teaching innovation also received international recognition and Noel was awarded the UK Academy for Information Systems (UKAIS) Award of Teaching Innovation in 2022.

Noels research interests include seeking ways to support organisations in developing and managing transformation strategies for multinationals, public services, SMEs, and start-ups. Specifically, he has examined new (interdisciplinary) theoretical perspectives around the normalisation and sustained efforts becoming embedded in transformation processes. Noel is also a regular reviewer for the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), COST Actions, and for other national and international agencies.

His research has recieved a number of national and international awards, for example:

• 2024: Awarded the Association for Information Systems (AIS) Outreach Practice Award
• 2024: Journal of Information Technology Best Paper Prize
• 2024: Recipient of Umeå University Research Fellowship (Guest Researcher Programme)
• 2023: The Times Higher Education Award for Digital Innovation of the Year
• 2022: Presidents Award for Research Excellence
• 2022: UK Academy for Information Systems (UKAIS) Award for Teaching Innovation
• 2022: Lero Directors Prize for Education and Public Engagement
• 2021: Innovation Vision Action Fellowship Award i2i Project, European Institute of Innovation and Technology
• 2021: Nominee for the Deans Award for Inclusive Teaching
• 2020: Best Paper Award: 32nd IEEE International Conference on Software Engineering Education amp; Training (CSEE&T 2020)
• 2019: Best Paper Award: AIS 14th International Research Workshop on IT Project Management (IRWITPM)

Noel collaborated with the Project Management Institute and Microsoft to launch the Citizen Developer University Hub. This initiative exemplifies innovative learner engagement by blending research-led teaching with industry collaboration, thereby equipping students with highly sought-after digital skills through an inclusive, flexible, and active learning model.

Noel is currently editing a Research Handbook on Digital Transformation and Responsibility (Edward Elgar Publishing). He has also led Special Issues with journals such as the European Journal of Information Systems, MISQe, and the Journal of Software: Evolution and Process. More details of publications are available via Google Scholar. 

Summary of Supervised PhDs to Graduation

1. 2022: Brian McLafferty (University of Maynooth) - Platform-based Digital Transformation at HPE Financial Services
2. 2021: Manzar Abbas (University of Limerick) - Decision-Making Frameworks for Healthcare Technology Software Solutions

Summary of Current PhD Supervision

1. 2021-Present: Samson Oludapo (University of Galway): Normalisation Theory and Digital Transformation (co-supervisor Prof. Markus Helfert, University of Maynooth)
2. 2021-Present: Mark Rowland (University of Galway): Digital Transformation and Culture (co-supervisor Prof. Kieran Conboy)
3. 2022-Present: Larry Carolan (University of Limerick): Professional doctorates (DEng) in digital transformation and cloud computing (co-supervisor Dr. Clare McInerney)
4. 2023-Present: Andrew Broanan (University College Cork): Digital Transformation and Risk (co-supervisor Dr. Stephen McCarthy)
5. 2023-Present: Hillary Azungah (University of Limerick): Digital Transformation and Healthcare Analytics (co-supervisor Dr. Katie Crowley)
6. 2025-Present: Dino Pavic (Bled School of Management, Slovenia): Leadership Strategies for the Normalization of Large-Scale Agile Transformations

Summary of Current Masters (Research) Supervision

1. 2023-2025: Muhammad Mohsin (University of Galway) -Digital Transformation in Healthcare (co-supervisor Dr. Katie Crowley)

Summary of Postdoctoral Supervision

1. 2021-2024: Dr. Matthew Ajimati (University of Galway)- Citizen Development for Digital Transformation
2. 2017-2019: Dr. Henry Edison (University of Galway)- Software Process Diversity and Complex Adaptive Systems

Summary of Research Assistant Supervision

1. 2022-2023: Srikanth Tiyyagura (University of Galway) - Citizen Development Training
2. 2022-2023: Mary ONeill (University of Galway)- Digital Transformation in the Hotel Sector
3. 2021-2022: Mary Maher (University of Galway)- Normalisation of Digital Transformation
4. 2022-2023: Eugene OFlaherty (University of Galway)- University AI Chatbot Cara
5. 2022-2023: Chaithra Narayana Murthy (University of Galway)- Citizen Development training for Industry

Sample of Current Research Projects

My teaching philosophy is grounded in an inclusive, dynamic, and student-centred learning environment. Rooted in constructivist theories, I believe education is a transformative journey whereby students must be empowered to actively engage, think critically, and become independent lifelong learners. To continually enhance my teaching practices, I am committed to professional development. One example of this includes completing the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Badge training programme in 2024. UDL principles continue to influence my teaching by ensuring that curricula, materials, and activities. For learner engagement, I promote the need for equitable opportunities for all learners, removing barriers and promoting accessibility. I believe this is especially important for students to develop digital skills.