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Coevolving Systems and the Organization of Agile Software Development

Author

Listed:
  • Richard Vidgen

    (School of Information Systems, Technology and Management, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia)

  • Xiaofeng Wang

    (Lero, The Irish Software Engineering Research Centre, Limerick, Ireland)

Abstract

Despite the popularity of agile methods in software development and increasing adoption by organizations there is debate about what agility is and how it is achieved. The debate suffers from a lack of understanding of agile concepts and how agile software development is practiced. This paper develops a framework for the organization of agile software development that identifies enablers and inhibitors of agility and the emergent capabilities of agile teams. The work is grounded in complex adaptive systems (CAS) and draws on three principles of coevolving systems: match coevolutionary change rate, maximize self-organizing, and synchronize exploitation and exploration. These principles are used to study the processes of two software development teams, one a team using eXtreme Programming (XP) and the other a team using a more traditional, waterfall-based development cycle. From the cases a framework for the organization of agile software development is developed. Time pacing, self-management with discipline and routinization of exploration are among the agile enablers found in the cases studies while event pacing, centralized management, and lack of resources allocated to exploration are found to be inhibitors to agility. Emergent capabilities of agile teams that are identified from the research include coevolution of business value, sustainable working with rhythm, sharing and team learning, and collective mindfulness.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Vidgen & Xiaofeng Wang, 2009. "Coevolving Systems and the Organization of Agile Software Development," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(3), pages 355-376, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:20:y:2009:i:3:p:355-376
    DOI: 10.1287/isre.1090.0237
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Thomas Kude & Sunil Mithas & Christoph T. Schmidt & Armin Heinzl, 2019. "How Pair Programming Influences Team Performance: The Role of Backup Behavior, Shared Mental Models, and Task Novelty," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 30(4), pages 1145-1163, December.
    3. Annosi, Maria Carmela & Appio, Francesco Paolo & Martini, Antonella, 2024. "Institutional context and agile team innovation: A sensemaking approach to collective knowledge creation," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    4. Lill, Philipp A. & Wald, Andreas, 2021. "The agility-control-nexus: A levers of control approach on the consequences of agility in innovation projects," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    5. Gregory Vial, 2023. "A Complex Adaptive Systems Perspective of Software Reuse in the Digital Age: An Agenda for IS Research," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 34(4), pages 1728-1743, December.
    6. Markus Hummel & Christoph Rosenkranz & Roland Holten, 2013. "The Role of Communication in Agile Systems Development," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 5(5), pages 343-355, October.
    7. Kieran Conboy, 2009. "Agility from First Principles: Reconstructing the Concept of Agility in Information Systems Development," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(3), pages 329-354, September.
    8. Guan, Jinping & Du, Xinyu & Zhang, Jiayue & Maymin, Philip & DeSoto, Emma & Langer, Ellen & He, Zhengbing, 2024. "Private vehicle drivers’ acceptance of autonomous vehicles: The role of trait mindfulness," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 211-221.
    9. Hindle, Giles A. & Vidgen, Richard, 2018. "Developing a business analytics methodology: A case study in the foodbank sector," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 268(3), pages 836-851.
    10. Alexander Benlian, 2022. "Sprint Zeal or Sprint Fatigue? The Benefits and Burdens of Agile ISD Practices Use for Developer Well-Being," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 33(2), pages 557-578, June.
    11. Vidgen, Richard & Shaw, Sarah & Grant, David B., 2017. "Management challenges in creating value from business analytics," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 261(2), pages 626-639.
    12. Ahn, Sang-Jin, 2020. "Three characteristics of technology competition by IoT-driven digitization," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    13. Kevin Suryaatmaja & Dermawan Wibisono & Achmad Ghazali & Rachma Fitriati, 2020. "Uncovering the failure of Agile framework implementation using SSM-based action research," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 6(1), pages 1-18, December.
    14. Shi, Yan & Zou, Bo & Guo, Jinyu & Ji, Peinan, 2022. "Time pacing of product development: The influence of goal clarity and autonomy," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).

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