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Examining the Structure of Lean and Agile Values among Software Developers

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Agile Processes in Software Engineering and Extreme Programming (XP 2014)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing ((LNBIP,volume 179))

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Abstract

Gaining maximum benefit of Lean and Agile methods requires a thorough understanding of their assumptions regarding culture, mindset, and values. This paper examines the value system structure of experienced developers working with Lean and Agile methods, and compares it to universal human values and individual personality. We developed and deployed an online survey on Lean and Agile values, with embedded measures for universal values and personality. The resulting data set, with 61 respondents, was analysed using agglomerative hierarchical clustering and multidimensional scaling. A value structure containing 11 Lean and Agile values was uncovered, yielding insight into how Lean and Agile developers experience values in their work. The analysis shows that Lean and Agile values are connected, but not equal, to universal values and personality. The proposed model can help practitioners understand the ethos of Lean and Agile methodologies and to assess their organisational culture. It may also help researchers to study models of software developer experience and value systems.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 68, FI-00014, Finland

    Fabian Fagerholm & Max Pagels

Authors
  1. Fabian Fagerholm
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  2. Max Pagels
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, Systems and Production, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy

    Giovanni Cantone

  2. Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy

    Michele Marchesi

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Fagerholm, F., Pagels, M. (2014). Examining the Structure of Lean and Agile Values among Software Developers. In: Cantone, G., Marchesi, M. (eds) Agile Processes in Software Engineering and Extreme Programming. XP 2014. Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing, vol 179. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06862-6_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-06862-6_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-06861-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-06862-6

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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