IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/inm/orisre/v33y2022i2p557-578.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sprint Zeal or Sprint Fatigue? The Benefits and Burdens of Agile ISD Practices Use for Developer Well-Being

Author

Listed:
  • Alexander Benlian

    (Department of Business, Law and Economics, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany)

Abstract

Despite the predominant view in the agile information systems development (ISD) literature that agile information systems development practices use (AISDPU) has positive ramifications for ISD teams and projects, previous research has paid considerably less attention to whether and how these practices can be simultaneously beneficial and burdensome to individual developers. In addition, much of our knowledge on AISDPU and its effects relies on research into the differences between developers over an extended period of time. Yet, agile ISD practices are typically used on a day-to-day basis and can thus be viewed as an inherently within-person phenomenon, pointing to the need for daily investigations that provide a closer look at the immediate, lived experiences of developers. Drawing on the holistic stress process model, we develop the idea that daily AISDPU can be a source of stressful situational demands with both energizing and depleting effects that may thus help or harm developer well-being. In an experience-sampling study of 131 developers who responded to daily surveys spread over 10 workdays, we show that AISDPU can indeed be a double-edged sword: instrumental to developers’ energy resources (by increasing work engagement) on some days yet detrimental to their energy resources (by increasing depletion) on others—two forces with opposing effects on developer well-being. Importantly, we find that the divergent effects of AISDPU critically hinge on whether developers appraise it as a challenge or a threat. As a potential antidote, we investigate the moderating role of information technology (IT) mindfulness in developers’ appraisal processes. Our results show that IT mindfulness serves as a facilitator of challenge appraisals and as a buffer against threat appraisals. More broadly, this study challenges the predominant view of AISDPU as an inherently good thing and offers meaningful insights into why and when AISDPU improves versus impairs developer well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:33:y:2022:i:2:p:557-578
    DOI: 10.1287/isre.2021.1069
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/isre.2021.1069
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1287/isre.2021.1069?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jaime B. Windeler & Likoebe Maruping & Viswanath Venkatesh, 2017. "Technical Systems Development Risk Factors: The Role of Empowering Leadership in Lowering Developers’ Stress," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 28(4), pages 775-796, December.
    2. Denise Albieri Jodas Salvagioni & Francine Nesello Melanda & Arthur Eumann Mesas & Alberto Durán González & Flávia Lopes Gabani & Selma Maffei de Andrade, 2017. "Physical, psychological and occupational consequences of job burnout: A systematic review of prospective studies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(10), pages 1-29, October.
    3. Michael L. Harris & Rosann Webb Collins & Alan R. Hevner, 2009. "Control of Flexible Software Development Under Uncertainty," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(3), pages 400-419, September.
    4. Benlian, Alexander, 2020. "A Daily Field Investigation of Technology-Driven Stress Spillovers from Work to Home," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 113238, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    5. Pär J. Ågerfalk & Brian Fitzgerald & Sandra A. Slaughter, 2009. "Introduction to the Special Issue ---Flexible and Distributed Information Systems Development: State of the Art and Research Challenges," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(3), pages 317-328, September.
    6. 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.
    7. Brian Fitzgerald & Gerard Hartnett & Kieran Conboy, 2006. "Customising agile methods to software practices at Intel Shannon," European Journal of Information Systems, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(2), pages 200-213, April.
    8. Likoebe M. Maruping & Viswanath Venkatesh & Ritu Agarwal, 2009. "A Control Theory Perspective on Agile Methodology Use and Changing User Requirements," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(3), pages 377-399, September.
    9. Lanaj, Klodiana & Johnson, Russell E. & Barnes, Christopher M., 2014. "Beginning the workday yet already depleted? Consequences of late-night smartphone use and sleep," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 124(1), pages 11-23.
    10. Balasubramaniam Ramesh & Kannan Mohan & Lan Cao, 2012. "Ambidexterity in Agile Distributed Development: An Empirical Investigation," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 23(2), pages 323-339, June.
    11. 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.
    12. John McAvoy & Tom Butler, 2009. "The role of project management in ineffective decision making within Agile software development projects," European Journal of Information Systems, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(4), pages 372-383, August.
    13. Aymeric Hemon & Frantz Rowe & Laetitia Monnier-Senicourt, 2020. "Orchestrating automation and sharing in DevOps teams: a revelatory case of job satisfaction factors, risk and work conditions," Post-Print hal-03709945, HAL.
    14. Aymeric Hemon-Hildgen & Frantz Rowe & Laetitia Monnier-Senicourt, 2020. "Orchestrating automation and sharing in DevOps teams: a revelatory case of job satisfaction factors, risk and work conditions," European Journal of Information Systems, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(5), pages 474-499, September.
    15. Robert D. Austin & Lee Devin, 2009. "Research Commentary ---Weighing the Benefits and Costs of Flexibility in Making Software: Toward a Contingency Theory of the Determinants of Development Process Design," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(3), pages 462-477, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Bartsch, Sebastian Clemens & Milani, Verena & Adam, Martin & Benlian, Alexander, 2024. "Algorithmic Accountability: What Does it Mean for AI Developers and How Does it Affect AI Development Projects," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 142984, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yixin Qiu & Anandasivam Gopal & Il-Horn Hann, 2017. "Logic Pluralism in Mobile Platform Ecosystems: A Study of Indie App Developers on the iOS App Store," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 28(2), pages 225-249, June.
    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. 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).
    4. Rob Gleasure & Kieran Conboy & Lorraine Morgan, 2019. "Talking Up a Storm: How Backers Use Public Discourse to Exert Control in Crowdfunded Systems Development Projects," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 30(2), pages 447-465, June.
    5. Ashay Saxena & Shankar Venkatagiri & Rajendra K. Bandi, 2023. "Conflict management in agile distributed development: evidence from product development and services engagements," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 247-266, September.
    6. Salman Nazir & Brad Price & Nanda C. Surendra & Katherine Kopp, 2022. "Adapting agile development practices for hyper-agile environments: lessons learned from a COVID-19 emergency response research project," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 193-211, September.
    7. Krishnaswamy N. & Selvarasu A., 2016. "Exploring interrelationship between three performance indicators with PMI’s Nine Knowledge Areas for successful Project Management," International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, vol. 6(3), pages 1162-1162.
    8. Alan Hevner & Onkar Malgonde, 2019. "Effectual application development on digital platforms," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 29(3), pages 407-421, September.
    9. 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.
    10. Alex Estevam & Denis Dennehy & Kieran Conboy, 2022. "Using Flow Tools to Enact Control in Software Development Projects: A Cross-case Analysis," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 287-304, February.
    11. Samuli Laato & Matti Mäntymäki & A. K.M. Najmul Islam & Sami Hyrynsalmi & Teemu Birkstedt, 2023. "Trends and Trajectories in the Software Industry: implications for the future of work," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 929-944, April.
    12. Christian Sillaber & Bernhard Waltl & Horst Treiblmaier & Ulrich Gallersdörfer & Michael Felderer, 2021. "Laying the foundation for smart contract development: an integrated engineering process model," Information Systems and e-Business Management, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 863-882, September.
    13. María Candela Rodríguez & Guillermo Enrique Dabos, 2016. "Gestión individual del equilibrio entre el trabajo y la vida personal: revisión e integración de la literatura," Revista Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, vol. 25(1), pages 219-242, December.
    14. Shahla Ghobadi & John Campbell & Stewart Clegg, 2017. "Pair programming teams and high-quality knowledge sharing: A comparative study of coopetitive reward structures," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 397-409, April.
    15. Dust, Scott B. & Liu, Haiyang & Wang, Siting & Reina, Christopher, 2022. "The effect of mindfulness and job demands on motivation and performance trajectories across the workweek: an entrainment theory perspective," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 108445, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    16. Gupta, Manjul & George, Joey F. & Xia, Weidong, 2019. "Relationships between IT department culture and agile software development practices: An empirical investigation," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 13-24.
    17. Nascimento, Lígia & Correia, Manuela Faia & Califf, Christopher B., 2024. "Towards a bright side of technostress in higher education teachers: Identifying several antecedents and outcomes of techno-eustress," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    18. Prithwiraj Choudhury & Kevin Crowston & Linus Dahlander & Marco S. Minervini & Sumita Raghuram, 2020. "GitLab: work where you want, when you want," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 9(1), pages 1-17, December.
    19. Shanshan Zhang & Fengchun Huang & Yuting Zhang & Qiwen Li, 2023. "A Person-Environment Fit Model to Explain Information and Communication Technologies-Enabled After-Hours Work-Related Interruptions in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-16, February.
    20. Shivam Gupta & Vinayak A. Drave & Surajit Bag & Zongwei Luo, 2019. "Leveraging Smart Supply Chain and Information System Agility for Supply Chain Flexibility," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 547-564, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:33:y:2022:i:2:p:557-578. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Asher (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/inforea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.