Barriers to learning in agile software development projects

Jeffry S. Babb, Rashina Hoda, Jacob Nørbjerg

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference PaperResearchpeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The adoption of agile methods promises many advantages for individual, team, and organizational learning. However, environmental, structural, and organizational/cultural constraints often find teams adapting agile software development methods rather than engaging in full adoption. We present results from two qualitative studies of teams and organizations that have, in many cases, adapted agile software methods to suit their needs through the omission or alteration of aspects of the method. In many cases, aspects of an agile method that are most related to learning were those that were modified or omitted. This paper utilizes the results of these studies to identify common and emergent barriers to learning. Often these barriers to learning exist according to organizational culture and the extent to which that culture influences attitudes, norms, and behaviors pertaining to learning. We present these barriers to learning and provide insight to the causes, effects, and potential ameliorations for these barriers.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAgile Processes in Software Engineering and Extreme Programming - 14th International Conference, XP 2013, Proceedings
EditorsHubert Baumeister, Barbara Weber
PublisherSpringer
Pages1-15
Number of pages15
ISBN (Print)9783642383137
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes
Event14th International Conference on Agile Processes in Software Engineering and Extreme Programming, XP 2013 - Vienna, Austria
Duration: 3 Jun 20137 Jun 2013

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Business Information Processing
Volume149
ISSN (Print)1865-1348

Conference

Conference14th International Conference on Agile Processes in Software Engineering and Extreme Programming, XP 2013
Country/TerritoryAustria
CityVienna
Period3/06/137/06/13

Keywords

  • Agile software development
  • Dialogical Action Research
  • Grounded Theory
  • Learning
  • Organizational culture
  • Scrum
  • XP

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