Scaled Agile Framework Meets Traditional Management – A Case of a Financial Services Provider

2023 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Bitzer, Michael; Brax, Franziska; Teuchert, Antonie

Abstract: Inspired by the success of agile practices in small teams, organizations seek t ... Expand

Abstract: Inspired by the success of agile practices in small teams, organizations seek to achieve agility at scale, leading to large-scale agile transformations. Several frameworks have been developed to guide organizations through this process. While multiple challenges for adopting scaled agile frameworks have already been identified, research on the interplay between traditional management approaches and scaled agile frameworks is scarce. We conduct an in-depth exploratory case study with a German financial services provider to identify tensions that arise when applying a scaled agile framework in a non-agile environment. As a result, we derive 13 tensions along with three areas: goal-setting, planning, and reporting. Thereby, we advance the understanding of tensions within large-scale agile transformations and provide a foundation for future research on scaled agile practices in traditional organizations. Further, we provide insights for managers to ensure the successful application of scaled agile frameworks. Collapse

Topics: scaled agile framework agile software development Scrum marketing management customer relationship management

Methods: qualitative interview design methodology case study triangulation personal interview

HOW AGILE IS YOUR IT DEPARTMENT? – DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF AN FRAMEWORK-INDEPENDENT AGILE SCALING MATURITY MODEL

2022 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Fabri, Lukas; Häckel, Björn; Stahl, Bastian; Beck, Sebastian; Gabele, Maximilian

Abstract: Many IT departments seek to capitalize on the benefits of agile development by ... Expand

Abstract: Many IT departments seek to capitalize on the benefits of agile development by scaling agile practices. To manage the complex scaling, established approaches and frameworks promise guidance. However, although existing works envision a clear target state, they lack relevant capabilities along the scaling process, especially for vertical agile scaling. Managers need these capabilities to assess their company's status quo and develop a clear scaling roadmap. Thus, within this work, we use the Design Science Research paradigm to build and evaluate a framework-independent agile scaling maturity model that provides management with a tool for ex-ante identification and evaluation of agile scaling capabilities in five maturity stages. To evaluate our model, we applied it at KUKA IT, the IT department of an international provider of automation solutions. As a result, this work provides insights into the application and outlines how IT departments can operationalize and utilize our model to guide agile scaling. Collapse

Topics: usability database system scaled agile framework IT workforce ease of use

Methods: qualitative interview design science literature study maturity model case study

Improving productivity through corporate hackathons: A multiple case study of two large-scale agile organizations

2022 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Moe, Nils Brede; Ulfsnes, Rasmus; Stray, Viktoria; Smite, Darja

Abstract: Software development companies organize hackathons to encourage innovation. Desp ... Expand

Abstract: Software development companies organize hackathons to encourage innovation. Despite many benefits of hackathons, in large-scale agile organizations where many teams work together, stopping the ongoing work results in a significant decrease in the immediate output. Motivated by the need to understand whether and how to run hackathons, we investigated how the practice affects productivity on the individual and organizational levels. By mapping the benefits and challenges to an established productivity framework, we found that hackathons improve developers' satisfaction and wellbeing, strengthen the company culture, improve performance (as many ideas are tested), increase activity (as the ideas are developed quickly), and improve communication and collaboration (because the social network is strengthened). Addressing managerial concerns, we found that hackathons also increase efficiency and flow because people learn to complete work and make progress quickly, and they build new competence. Finally, with respect to virtual hackathons we found that developers work more in isolation because tasks are split between team members resulting in less collaboration. This means that some important, expected hackathon values in virtual contexts require extra effort and cannot be taken for granted. Collapse

Topics: productivity remote work IT supported collaboration idea generation innovation management

Methods: qualitative interview multiple case study personal interview design methodology case study

Agile Software Development during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Technology Company Survey

2022 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Schmidt, Peter; Gutfreund, Keith

Abstract: A common baseline is that Agile-based software development is conducted by co-lo ... Expand

Abstract: A common baseline is that Agile-based software development is conducted by co-located teams working in well-equipped office workspaces. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have cast new light on those assumptions. Suddenly, developers were no longer co-located with their teams and their well-equipped workspaces were vacant. How did the lockdowns, and the speed in which they were implemented, affect developers and development efforts? Did the lockdowns lead to diminished product quality? How was employee productivity impacted? A survey questionnaire was created to answer these questions. Collapse

Topics: productivity co-located work agile software development Scrum pandemic

Methods: survey design methodology Pearson's chi squared test of independence between categorical variables LexisNexis survey design

“The Second Vice is Lying, the First is Running into Debt.” Antecedents and Mitigating Practices of Social Debt: an Exploratory Study in Distributed Software Development Teams

2021 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Dreesen, Tim; Hennel, Phil; Rosenkranz, Christoph; Kude, Thomas

Abstract: Although much is known about the concept of technical debt in software developme ... Expand

Abstract: Although much is known about the concept of technical debt in software development, less is known about its social counterpart, also known as social debt. Social debt refers to future consequences of decisions related to people and their interactions. Omissions in social interactions or reduction of communication can foster social debt – and in turn result in negative outcomes in the long run. In this paper, we explore what factors drive and mitigate social debt in distributed agile software development teams. Utilizing an exploratory case study approach, we derive insights from two case organizations. We present antecedents and mitigating factors of social debt related to communication, collaboration, and coordination. Collapse

Topics: systems development pandemic IT supported collaboration remote work scaled agile framework

Methods: qualitative interview case study theory development design methodology qualitative coding

Theories: social capital theory control theory

Performance Measurement in Scaled Agile Organizations

2021 | HICSS | Citations: 16

Authors: Korpivaara, Ida; Tuunanen, Tuure; Seppänen, Ville

Abstract: Performance metrics are a key tool for organizations to direct and motivate thei ... Expand

Abstract: Performance metrics are a key tool for organizations to direct and motivate their members toward desired outcomes. Despite their central role also in Agile development, little is known about how Agile organizations set performance objectives and metrics in practice and balance between business and software engineering goals. In particular, there is a knowledge gap regarding performance measurement and its challenges in scaled Agile organizations. This paper applies an exploratory case study method to examine performance objectives and metrics in two business units of a scaled Agile organization and suggests a framework for selecting and structuring performance objectives within them. We offer five performance measurement dimensions that can be applied to provide guidance for scaled Agile organizations in selecting and prioritizing performance objectives. Collapse

Topics: agile software development scaled agile framework customer satisfaction system development method systems development

Methods: qualitative interview design methodology case study qualitative content analysis survey

Scaling with an Agile Mindset – A Conceptual Approach to Large-Scale Agile

2021 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Mordi, Azuka; Schoop, Mareike

Abstract: Large-scale agile frameworks are becoming increasingly popular as a means to sc ... Expand

Abstract: Large-scale agile frameworks are becoming increasingly popular as a means to scale agile in organisations. The underlying expectation is to profit from the benefits agile methods exhibit in smaller contexts. Scaling agile proves to be an intricate task and has exposed challenges and success factors over various studies. Most scaled agile frameworks focus on implementation of methods, practices and routines, which entails certain challenges for agile transformations. Although some mention is made of agile mindset in scaling activities, the current situation suggests that agile mindset as the core of agility has not been leveraged to its full extent and is underrepresented. To address this matter and re-conceptualise large-scale agile, a new holistic concept is developed that utilises the socio-technical systems thinking in creating an agile mindset approach for scaling agile in organisations. Collapse

Topics: requirements analysis scaled agile framework database system

Methods: literature study

Theories: complex adaptive system

On Solving the Business Requirements Engineering Problems of Information Systems Development Projects – Lessons from Three Projects

2020 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Dahlberg, Tomi; Lagstedt, Altti

Abstract: Information systems development (ISD) often fails. Requirements engineering (RE) ... Expand

Abstract: Information systems development (ISD) often fails. Requirements engineering (RE) problems rank high in ISD project failure statistics. RE is often regarded as the link between business (processes) (BP) and IS. Thus, in RE, the BP and IS requirements need to be synchronized. We conducted three case studies to investigate RE problems and the reasons for them, especially to contemplate how to synchronize business process and IS development requirements in plan-driven (waterfall) and change-driven (agile) projects. Investigated cases indicate that the ontological and epistemological matching of IS and BP requirements engineering methods improves requirements quality. Collapse

Topics: requirements analysis business process management scaled agile framework stage-gate model requirements elicitation

Methods: case study qualitative interview design methodology personal interview archival research

How Enterprises Adopt Agile Forms of Organizational Design: A Multiple-Case Study

2020 | ACM SIGMIS Database | Citations: 0

Authors: Gerster, Daniel; Dremel, Christian; Brenner, Walter; Kelker, Prashant

Abstract: The question of how to increase speed and flexibility in times of digital disrup ... Expand

Abstract: The question of how to increase speed and flexibility in times of digital disruption is essential to almost any company. While previous research mainly addresses agility in the context of information systems development, as form for organizing startups or "born digital" companies, little knowledge exists about the adoption of agile practices and structures at established enterprises. With an exploratory study of fifteen global cases, we aim at examining how established enterprises adopt and scale agile forms of organizational design. We found that (1) agile forms of organizational design are currently adopted by enterprises at large scale, (2) agile forms of organizational design are adopted not only by IT, but successively also by business units and in contexts outside information systems development, and (3) while Spotify's organization serves as a widespread template for a fully agile unit, enterprises adapt and fine-tune this template according to their needs and scale. We identified three additional models for fully agile forms of organizational design where a fully agile unit with cross-product support is the most frequently observed model. Collapse

Topics: agile software development digital service Spotify innovation management business model

Methods: case study qualitative interview multiple case study design methodology survey

Theories: ambidexterity theory

Implementing Large-Scale Agile - an Analysis of Challenges and Success Factors

2020 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Kischelewski, Björn; Richter, Janek

Abstract: Agile methods have become a standard in software development projects and large ... Expand

Abstract: Agile methods have become a standard in software development projects and large organizations are applying these methods to their projects. The implementation of agile methods in contexts of large and multiple teams that may span across different locations is referred to as large-scale agile. Limited systematic and scientific knowledge about large-scale agile exists that is based on empirical research. Aggregated knowledge is primarily based on experience reports and industry cases. Hence, organizations face difficulties to successfully implement large-scale agile. We conduct an analysis of challenges and success factors that we identified in empirical research. The majority of challenges and success factors correspond to topics such as communication, coordination, and knowledge management. We discuss our results by highlighting distribution among agile methods (e.g. Scrum) and agile frameworks that are designed for large-scale agile by definition (e.g. SAFe). We conclude our paper by discussing limitations and presenting avenues for future research. Our paper contributes to the body of knowledge on large-scale agile implementations and provides a systematic overview of challenges and success factors. Collapse

Topics: agile software development Scrum scaled agile framework social media Slack

Methods: literature sample design methodology literature study structured literature research literature filtering