A Failure to Learn By Software Developers: Inhibiting the Adoption of an Agile Software Development Methodology

Abstract

The adoption of an Agile software development methodology can be impacted by many stakeholders. In the parlance of Chris Argyris, the adoption of Agile is an exercise in learning - behavioral change created by Agile’s values. This paper presents a case study investigating the failures associated with the introduction of elements of a new software development methodology by the software developers within a software development team. Although Argyis’ work is often portrayed at the organizational level, this case study examines individual learning. The failure to adopt aspects of the new methodology is seen as a failure to learn by the individual software developers within the team. This paper posits that learning is more than a pedagogical view of learning a new skill; learning also involves changes in individual behaviors, attitudes and opinions. As methodology adoption involves changes to the software developers’ activities and values, this study investigates the introduction of an Agile Method as a learning experience. This case study concentrates on one particular group of stakeholders - the software developers - and examines the affect their traits can have on the learning activity of adopting an Agile methodology in a project. Extant research focuses on the traits of software developers but does not incorporate influences from the values inherent in Agile. The objective of this case study is to examine the traits of individual programmers to determine the impact they can have on the adoption of an Agile methodology by examining, in depth, the introduction of Agile by the software developers in a team. This leads to the research question which asks if and how the traits of software developers can negatively impact on the behavioral changes required for the learning inherent in an Agile adoption?

Keywords:

• Learning
• Behaviors
• Agile Adoption
• Software developers
• Cognitive dissonance

Additional information

Notes on contributors

John McAvoy

John McAvoy is a lecturer in Business Information Systems at University College Cork, Ireland. Prior to lecturing, John had a variety of roles in the Information Systems field, ranging from systems administration to managing software development teams.

Tom Butler

Tom Butler is a Senior Lecturer in Business Information Systems at University College Cork, Ireland. Before lecturing, Tom had an extensive career in the telecommunications industry. Tom has also successfully managed a development project for the United Nations.