Experiences of Tensions Between Exploitation and Exploration in Agile Software Development Projects
2019 (English)In: NFF 2019 The 25th Nordic Academy of Management Conference: Nordic energies, 2019Conference paper, Oral presentation with published abstract (Refereed)
Abstract [en]
Context: Agile software development (ASD) projects were assessed through the classical triple constraints of cost, quality, and schedule, as well as on communication, collaboration, and responsiveness.
Objective: Our objective is to examines ASD practitioners' experiences of tensions or conflicting demands between adapting into processes, being structured and having continuity (also called exploitation), on the one hand, and being creative, flexible and autonomous on the other (also called exploration).
Method: We collected data in twelve semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to identify recurrent themes and sub-themes in the data.
Results: Three themes and four sub-themes were identified. The findings show ASD practitioners' experiences of tensions labeled in the three main themes: Structure and flexibility, Competence and learning, and Roles and Responsibilities. By identifying how tensions of exploitation and exploration are understood, we contribute to the debate of how organizational ambidexterity is pursued in practice.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2019.
Keywords [en]
Agile Software Development, Plan-driven Development, Ambidexterity, Exploitation, Exploration, Tensions
National Category
Information Systems
Research subject
Information Systems; Projektledning
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-74689OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kau-74689DiVA, id: diva2:1349705
Conference
The 25th Nordic Academy of Management Conference: Nordic energies,Vaasa, Finland, 2019-08-22 - 2019-08-24
2019-09-092019-09-092019-10-24Bibliographically approved