Personality Theory as a Predictor for Agile Preference

Since their arrival on the software development scene, agile software development methods have been a source of intense study. One promising aspect of research in relation to agile methods is personality theory. Although there have been some studies utilizing personality theory, to date no research has been performed to investigate the potential link between personality attributes and preference for agile methods. This study seeks to explore this research gap using a quantitative survey based approach. The outcome of this study provides evidence that there may not be a correlation between personality and agile methods, at least in terms of personality characteristics as measured by the Five Factor Model. In addition to this finding, the research provides a contribution in the form of an instrument to measure agile software development methodology preference

Gestión del conocimiento para la elaboración de un modelo formal de asignación de personal a equipos de proyectos de software.

La formación de los equipos de proyectos de software se realiza, por lo general, de forma empírica. Sin embargo, en este proceso se deben considerar múltiples factores. En la literatura resultan escasos los trabajos donde se modele este proceso. La mayor parte de ellos constituyen propuestas que no consideran ningún aspecto vinculado a la formación del equipo como un todo. En este trabajo se describen los principales resultados del proceso de gestión de conocimientos realizado para obtener los elementos considerados en un modelo formal para la asignación de personal a equipos en proyectos de software. Estos elementos fueron identificados mediante el uso del método Delphi y la aplicación de tests.The formation of software project teams is carried out, in general, in an empiric manner. However, in this process should consider multiple factors. In literature the works where this process is modeled are scarce, and most of them do not consider any aspect linked to the formation of the team as a whole. In this work, the main results of the process of knowledge management carried out to obtain the elements considered in a formal model for the assignment people to teams in software projects is described. These elements were identified through the use of the Delphi method, and of the application of psychological tests

Toward an Understanding of Preference for Agile Software Development Methods from a Personality Theory Perspective

This paper presents the results of an exploratory research study that investigates factors contributing to preference for the agile software development approaches. The initial exploration revolves around the Five Factor Model of personality and the premise that these personality factors provide a partial explanation of preference for an agile approach. A survey instrument for measuring the preference for agile methods was developed and validated. The results from the quantitative data collected from the survey study indicate that three out of the five personality factors from the Five Factor Model show a correlation with above average preference for agile methods. These factors are extra version, openness and neuroticism. The first two have a positive relationship with agile preference while neuroticism (emotional instability) has a negative relationship with agile methodology preference. To further investigate the results, an exploratory factor analysis was performed on the data, which identified three factors that may also contribute to a preference for agile methods

Examining the Conflict Between User Experience and Software Development in Industry

In this age the modern consumer expects a software product to be profusely technically functional with an elegant and intuitive user interface. To accomplish this goal, it has become necessary for software development teams and user experience teams to collaborate on software projects. These two complementary teams often come from different backgrounds, with different technical knowledge, processes, management structures, and deadlines. As these teams continue to collaborate more and more the chance of encountering a conflict also increases. In this research we examine the conflict that can occur between software development and user experience teams and the possible effects on the product quality. This is done by surveying software developers and user experience designers from industry. We collected responses from volunteer participants using an online questionnaire. We examine factors that may make teams more prone to conflict as well as the effect conflict can have on a project. Based on our results we make some suggestions of practices that may lower the likelihood of conflict occurring, and ameliorate conflict that has already occurred

Estudios experimentales sobre la influencia de la personalidad y el clima en el desarrollo de software: Guías para gestión de equipos en proyectos de ingeniería del software

Tesis doctoral inédita. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Escuela Politécnica Superior, julio 201