Short answer
When implementing large-scale agile, critically evaluate the principles behind frameworks and explore custom adaptations that align with your specific organizational needs and context.
- Field
- Innovation & Design
- Source
- IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering (2021)
- Method
- Systematic Literature Review
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
A systematic review of large-scale agile software development frameworks reveals that successful adoption hinges on understanding the nuances of principles, practices, and custom adaptations, rather than solely focusing on commercial offerings. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2021 study published in IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering. Using Systematic literature review, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When implementing large-scale agile, critically evaluate the principles behind frameworks and explore custom adaptations that align with your specific organizational needs and context.
Large-Scale Agile Frameworks: A Comparative Analysis for Strategic Adoption
A systematic review of large-scale agile software development frameworks reveals that successful adoption hinges on understanding the nuances of principles, practices, and custom adaptations, rather than solely focusing on commercial offerings.
IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering · 2021
Key Findings
- 01There is a tendency to emphasize the practices of commercial frameworks over their underlying principles.
- 02Custom-built agile methods developed within organizations are often overlooked in favor of commercial solutions.
- 03Successful adoption of large-scale agile methods is influenced by a set of identified challenges and success factors.
Application
Design takeaway
When implementing large-scale agile, critically evaluate the principles behind frameworks and explore custom adaptations that align with your specific organizational needs and context.
How to apply
Before selecting a large-scale agile framework, conduct a thorough analysis of your organization's culture, existing processes, and specific goals. Compare the core principles of different frameworks and assess whether a commercial solution or a tailored approach would be more effective.
Project actions
- 01When researching different design methodologies, look for studies that compare them based on core principles, not just features.
- 02Consider how your chosen methodology can be adapted to your specific project needs, rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all solution.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a standardized comparison of multiple large-scale agile methods.
- +Includes both commercial and custom-built approaches.
- +Identifies theoretical and practical issues in the current literature.
Limitations
The research is based on existing literature, which might not capture all real-world nuances or the latest developments in agile frameworks. The effectiveness of custom-built methods can vary greatly depending on the organization.
Reliability & validity
The reliability of this systematic literature review depends on the comprehensiveness of the search strategy and the rigor of the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Validity is enhanced by the standardized comparison approach across multiple methods.
Think critically
To what extent does the emphasis on commercial large-scale agile frameworks hinder genuine innovation and adaptation within organizations, and what are the risks associated with prioritizing practices over principles?
Design Principles
"Principle-driven adaptation over practice-driven adoption."
Designers and engineers implementing agile methodologies at an organizational scale need to move beyond surface-level adoption of popular frameworks. A deeper understanding of the underlying principles and the potential for tailored or custom solutions is crucial for effective and sustainable implementation.
What This Means for Your Design
When trying to use agile methods for a whole company, it's better to understand the main ideas behind them and see if you can create your own version that fits your company, instead of just copying a popular, pre-made system.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing the selection and implementation of design methodologies, particularly when comparing different frameworks or justifying the adaptation of a standard approach.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
A systematic literature review by Edison, Wang, and Conboy (2021) highlights the importance of understanding the underlying principles of large-scale agile frameworks, such as SAFe and LeSS, rather than solely focusing on their prescribed practices. The study found that a tendency exists to prioritize commercial framework features over core agile tenets, and that custom-built solutions developed within organizations are often overlooked. This suggests that for effective implementation, designers should critically evaluate the foundational principles of any chosen methodology and consider its adaptability to specific organizational contexts.
Source
IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering
Comparing Methods for Large-Scale Agile Software Development: A Systematic Literature Review
journal · 2021
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about large-scale agile frameworks: a comparative analysis for strategic adoption?
- When implementing large-scale agile, critically evaluate the principles behind frameworks and explore custom adaptations that align with your specific organizational needs and context. Evidence: IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering (2021).
- Why does "Large-Scale Agile Frameworks: A Comparative Analysis for Strategic Adoption" matter for design?
- Designers and engineers implementing agile methodologies at an organizational scale need to move beyond surface-level adoption of popular frameworks. A deeper understanding of the underlying principles and the potential for tailored or custom solutions is crucial for effective and sustainable implementation.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When implementing large-scale agile, critically evaluate the principles behind frameworks and explore custom adaptations that align with your specific organizational needs and context.
- What were the main findings?
- There is a tendency to emphasize the practices of commercial frameworks over their underlying principles.. Custom-built agile methods developed within organizations are often overlooked in favor of commercial solutions.. Successful adoption of large-scale agile methods is influenced by a set of identified challenges and success factors.
- What research method was used?
- Systematic Literature Review.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2021 journal from IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- Before selecting a large-scale agile framework, conduct a thorough analysis of your organization's culture, existing processes, and specific goals. Compare the core principles of different frameworks and assess whether a commercial solution or a tailored approach would be more effective.
- What are the limitations?
- The review's findings are based on existing literature, which may have its own biases or gaps. The empirical evidence for some methods might be limited or skewed towards specific organizational types.