Abstract
The combination of agile methods and global software development via virtual teams represents an emerging approach to addressing the challenges typically associated with software development projects. The prevailing viewpoint has been that agile methods are not applicable in global settings. However, some current research is challenging this assertion. Therefore, we pose the following research question: How can agile teams be successfully configured in globally distributed environments? Drawing upon configurational theory, work group design research, virtualness concepts, and the software agility literature, the purpose of this paper is to construct a preliminary conceptual model for exploring three proposed dimensions necessary for successful configuration of global agile teams: structure, agility, and virtualness. This paper contributes to the information systems field by providing a starting point towards theory building in the area of globally distributed agile teams and by suggesting three dimensions for measuring and characterizing global agile team configuration.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abrahamson, P.: Extreme Programming: First Results from a Controlled Case Study. In: Proceedings of the Euromicro (2003)
Abrahamson, P., Koskel, J.: eXtreme Programming: A Survey of Empirical Data from a Controlled Case Study. In: Proceedings of the ACM-IEEE International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering, pp. 73–82 (2004)
Abrahamson, P., Warsta, J., Sippon, S.T., Ronkainen, J.: New Directions on Agile methods: A Comparative Analysis. In: Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Software Engineering, pp. 244–254 (2003)
Agerfalk, P.J., Fitzgerald, B.: Flexible and Distributed Software Processes: Old Petunias in New Bowls? Communications of the ACM 49(10), 27–34 (2006)
Augustine, S., Payne, B., Sencindiver, F., Woodcock, S.: Agile Project Management: Steering From the edges. Communications of the ACM 48(12), 85–89 (2005)
Balijepally, V., Mahapatra, R., Nerur, S.: Assessing Personality Profiles of Software Developers in Agile Development Teams. Communications of the Association for Information Systems 18, 55–75 (2006)
Barkhi, R., Amiri, A., James, T.L.: A Study of Communication and Coordination in Collaborative Software Development. Journal of Global Information Technology 9(1), 44–61 (2006)
Battin, R.D., Crocker, R., Kreidler, J., Subramanian, K.: Leveraging Resources in Global Software Development. IEEE Software 18(2), 70–77 (2001)
Beck, K., Andres, C.: Extreme Programming Explained: Embrace Change. Addison-Wesley, Boston (2000)
Bell, B.S., Kozlowski, S.W.J.: A Typology of Virtual Teams: Implications for Effective Leadership. Group & Organization Management 27(1), 14–49 (2002)
Benbasat, I., Goldstein, D.K., Mead, M.: The Case Research Strategy in Information Systems. MIS Quarterly 11(3), 369–386 (1987)
Bonoma, T.V.: Case Research in Marketing: Opportunities, Problems, and a Process. Journal of Marketing Research 22(2), 199–208 (1985)
Carmel, E.: Global Software Teams: Collaborating Across Borders and Time Zones. Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River (1999)
Carmel, E., Agarwal, R.: Tactical Approaches for Alleviating Distance in Global Software Development. IEEE Software 18(2), 22–29 (2001)
Crampton, C.D., Webber, S.S.: Relationships Among Geographic Dispersion, Team Processes, and Effectiveness in Software Development Work Teams. Journal of Business Research 58, 758–765 (2005)
Damian, D., Moitra, D.: Global Software Development: How Far Have We Come? IEEE Software 23(5), 17–19 (2006)
Dube, L., Pare, G.: Global Virtual Teams. Communications of the ACM 44(12), 71–73 (2001)
Eisenhardt, K.M.: Building Theories From Case Study Research. The Academy of Management Review 14(4), 532–550 (1989)
Erickson, J., Lyytinen, K., Siau, K.: Agile Modeling, Agile Software Development, and Extreme Programming: The State of Research. Journal of Database Management 16(4), 88–100 (2005)
Eveland, J., Bikson, T.: Work Group Structures and Computer Support: A Field Experiment. ACM Transactions on Office Information Systems 6(4), 354–379 (1988)
Fitzgerald, B., Hartnett, G., Conboy, K.: Customising Agile Methods to Software Practices at Intel Shannon. European Journal of Information Systems 15, 200–213 (2006)
Flor, N.V.: Globally Distributed Software Development and Pair Programming. Communications of the ACM 49(10), 57–58 (2006)
Fowler, M., Highsmith, J.: The Agile Manifesto (2001), http://www.agilemanifesto.org
Galegher, B., Kraut, R.E.: Computer-Mediated Communication for Intellectual Teamwork: An Experiment in Group Writing. Information Systems Research 5(2), 110–138 (2004)
Gibson, C.B., Cohen, S.G.: In the Beginning: Introduction and Framework. In: Gibson, C.B., Cohen, S.G. (eds.) Virtual Teams That Work: Creating conditions for Virtual Team Effectiveness, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco (2003)
Hackman, J.R.: Leading Teams: Setting the Stage for Great Performances. Harvard Business School Press, Boston (2002)
Hackman, J.R., Oldham, G.R.: Work Redesign. Addison-Wesley, Reading (1980)
Hackman, J.R., Walton, R.E.: Leading Groups in Organizations. In: Goodman, P.S. (ed.) Designing Effective Work Groups, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco (1986)
Herbsleb, J.D., Moitra, D.: Global Software Development. IEEE Software 18(2), 16–20 (2001)
Highsmith, J., Cockburn, A.: Agile Software Development: The Business of Innovation. IEEE Computer 34(9), 120–122 (2001)
Holmstrom, H., Fitzgerald, B., Agerfalk, P.J., Conchuir, E.O.: Agile Practices Reduce Distance in Global Software Development. Information Systems Management, 7–18 (2006)
Jarvenpaa, S.L., Knoll, K., Leidner, D.E.: Is Anybody Out There? Antecedents of Trust in Global Virtual Teams. Journal of Management Information Systems 14(4), 29–64 (1998)
Jarvenpaa, S.L., Leidner, D.E.: Communication and Trust in Global Virtual Teams. Organization Science 10(6), 791–815 (1999)
Kayworth, T.R., Leidner, D.E.: Leadership Effectiveness in Global Virtual Teams. Journal of Management Information Systems 18(3), 7–40 (2001-2002)
Kayworth, T.R., Leidner, D.E.: The Global Virtual Manager: A Prescription for Success. European Management Journal 36(6), 183–194 (2001)
Kircher, M., Prashant, J., Corsaro, A., Levine, D.: Distributed eXtreme programming. In: Marchesi, M., Succi, G., Wells, D., Williams, L., Wells, J.D. (eds.) Extreme Programming Perspectives, Addison-Wesley, Reading (2001)
Komi-Sirvio, S., Tihinen, M.: Lessons Learned by Participants of Distributed Software Development. Knowledge and Process Management 12(2), 108–122 (2005)
Lee, G., De Lone, W., Espinosa, J.A.: Ambidextrous Coping Strategies in Globally Distributed Software Development Projects. Communications of the ACM 49(10), 35–40 (2006)
Lipnack, J., Stamps, J.: Virtual Teams: People Working Across Boundaries with Technology, 2nd edn. John Wiley & Sons, New York (2000)
Lurey, J.S., Raisinghani, M.S.: An Empirical Study of Best Practices in Virtual Teams. Information & Management 38(8), 523–544 (2001)
Maznevski, M.L., Chudoba, K.M.: Bridging Space Over Time: Global Virtual Team Dynamics and Effectiveness. Organization Science 11(5), 473–492 (2000)
Meyer, A.D., Tsui, A.S., Hinings, C.R.: Configurational Approaches to Organizational Analysis. Academy of Management Journal 36(6), 1175–1195 (1993)
Miles, R.E., Snow, C.C.: Organizational Strategy, Structure, and Process. McGraw-Hill, New York (1978)
Mintzberg, H.T.: The Structuring of Organizations. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs (1979)
Mintzberg, H.T.: Structure in Fives: Designing Effective Organizations. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs (1983)
Powell, A., Piccoli, G., Ives, B.: Virtual Teams: A Review of Current Literature and Directions for Future Research. The DATA BASE for Advances in Information Systems 35(1), 6–36 (2004)
Prasad, K., Akhilesh, K.B.: Global Virtual Teams: What Impacts Their Design and Performance? Team Performance Management 8(5/6), 102–112 (2002)
Ramesh, B., Cao, L., Mohan, K., Xu, P.: Can Distributed Software Development Be Agile? Communications of the ACM 49(10), 41–46 (2006)
Sarker, S., Lau, F., Sahay, S.: Using an Adapted Grounded Theory Approach for Inductive Theory Building About Virtual Team Development. DATA BASE for Advances in Information Systems 32(1), 38–56 (2001)
Sarker, S., Sahay, S.: Implications of Space and Time for Distributed work: An Interpretive Study of US-Norwegian Systems Development Teams. European Journal of Information Systems 13, 3–20 (2004)
Schummer, T., Schummer, J.: Support for Distributed Teams in eXtreme Programming. In: Succi, G., Marchesi, M. (eds.) Extreme Programming Examined. Addison-Wesley, Reading (2001)
Sharp, J.H., Ryan, S.D.: A Research Framework for Investigating the Successful Configuration of Globally Distributed Agile Teams. In: Proceedings of the Thirteenth Americas Conference on Information Systems, pp. 1–7 (2007)
Suchan, J., Hayzak, G.: The Communication Characteristics of Virtual Teams: A Case Study. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication 44(3), 174–186 (2001)
Townsend, A.M., DeMarie, S.M., Hendrickson, A.R.: Virtual Teams: Technology and the Workplace of the Future. Academy of Management Executive 12(3), 17–29 (1998)
Xiaohu, Y., Bin, X., Zhijun, H., Maddineni, S.R.: Extreme Programming in Global Software Development. In: Canadian Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering, vol. 4, pp. 1845–1848 (2004)
Yin, R.K.: Case study research: Design and methods, 3rd edn. Sage Publications, Thousands Oaks (2003)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Sharp, J.H., Ryan, S.D. (2008). A Preliminary Conceptual Model for Exploring Global Agile Teams. In: Abrahamsson, P., Baskerville, R., Conboy, K., Fitzgerald, B., Morgan, L., Wang, X. (eds) Agile Processes in Software Engineering and Extreme Programming. XP 2008. Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing, vol 9. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-68255-4_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-68255-4_15
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-68254-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-68255-4
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)