Achieving software development agility: different roles of team, methodological and process factors
Information Technology & People
ISSN: 0959-3845
Article publication date: 11 April 2023
Issue publication date: 18 March 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Agile principles have been widely used in software development team practice since the creation of the Agile Manifesto. Studies have examined variables related to agile principles without systematically considering the relationships among key team, agile methodology, and process variables underlying the agile principles and how these variables jointly influence the achievement of software development agility. In this study, the authors tested a team/methodology–process–agility model that links team variables (team autonomy and team competence) and methodological variable (iterative development) to process variables (communication and collaborative decision-making), which are in turn linked to software development agility (ability to sense, respond and learn).
Design/methodology/approach
Survey data from one hundred and sixty software development professionals were analyzed using structural equation modeling methods.
Findings
The results support the team/methodology–process–agility model. Process variables (communication and collaborative decision-making) mediated the effects of team (autonomy and competence) and methodological (iterative development) variables on software development agility. In addition, team, methodology and process variables had different effects on the three dimensions of software development agility.
Originality/value
The results contribute to the literature on organizational IT management by establishing a team/methodology–process–agility model that can serve as a basis for developing a core theoretical foundation underlying agile principles and practices. The results also have practical implications for organizations in understanding and managing holistically the different roles that agile methodological, team and process factors play in achieving software development agility.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the contributions of the Editor and three anonymous reviewers in helping improve the quality of this paper.
Citation
Rathor, S., Xia, W. and Batra, D. (2024), "Achieving software development agility: different roles of team, methodological and process factors", Information Technology & People, Vol. 37 No. 2, pp. 835-873. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-10-2021-0832
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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