Knowledge Mobilization in Agile Information Systems Projects: A Literature Analysis

This study focuses on how knowledge is mobilized in agile information systems (IS) projects. One crucial success factor of those projects is to mobilize knowledge through different knowledge management processes. It is vital to establish efficient knowledge management (KM) processes to generate a knowledge culture based on transparency and communication. Communication channels, digital tools, and platforms are essential for establishing a KM infrastructure supporting the knowledge work of the project organization. Thus, each IS implementation team should maintain a knowledge base and a knowledge potential at some level. However, this is not always the case. We conducted a literature review to survey the extant research on the role of KM in agile system development projects. The agile approach is often associated with the networking model and tacit knowledge. The findings indicate that the agile approach is supposed to promote KM. While tacit knowledge is rooted in the analogue process of continuous actions and informal communication, explicit knowledge is captured in digital records of documentation and databases. In KM, the personalization model (behavioural, networking) and the codification (technocratic, repository) model is central. The choice of system development method (agile versus plan-driven) influences how knowledge is mobilized in the project organization. An agile approach heavily relies on informal communication, tacit knowledge sharing, and light documentation. In contrast, the plan-driven methods such as the waterfall approach generate more explicit knowledge through documentation. Communities of practice are important structures for transforming from plan-driven to agile approaches. We present a framework showing specific challenges the literature identifies concerning the efficient mobilization of knowledge in the agile context. For large-scale agile projects, informal coordination mechanisms were important. This study identifies several measures for overcoming barriers and risks for knowledge sharing in the agile context.Knowledge Mobilization in Agile Information Systems Projects: A Literature AnalysispublishedVersio

Raising Awareness In Distributed Agile Development - A Case Study Perspective

Raising and maintaining awareness in distributed agile cross-cultural teams is a challenging process, especially as the tenets of agile methods rely heavily on physical proximity, face-to-face communication, coordination and close collaboration. This paper reports on preliminary findings on how a distributed agile team within the financial sector, engages in raising awareness to carry out collaborative activities to accomplish project tasks. We have adapted the use of 3C Collaboration model as an evaluative mechanism to examine how the different dimensions (communication, coordination and cooperation) of the model stimulate awareness within a distributed agile team. The insights gained from the case study, suggest there is a constant interplay between the offshore and onshore teams to try and raise and maintain awareness in order to achieve project goal

Information flows at inter-team boundaries in agile information systems development

Agile software development methods are being used on larger projects thus the study of inter-team communication are becoming an important topic of interest for researchers. This research addresses inter-team communication by exploring the tools and three different boundaries, inter-team, team and customers, and geographically separated teams. In this research, we gathered data from semi-structured face-to-face interviews which were analyzed following the grounded theory approach. Our study reveals consensus from different teams on the importance of virtual Kanban boards. Also, some teams members tend to adapt to other teams’ preferred communication tool. We observed challenges around interdependent user stories among the different teams and highlighted the problems that rise at the different boundaries. Keywords: agile information system development • inter-team communication • agile team boundary • communication • agile methods • cooperating agile team

A systematic review of knowledge sharing challenges and practices in global software development

Abstract not availableMansooreh Zahedia, Mojtaba Shahinb, Muhammad Ali Baba

Servitization in inter-organizational constellations: A multi-perspective approach:Investigating the role of agile innovation approaches

This dissertation addresses the critical yet underexplored topic of servitization in inter-organizational constellations. Servitization entails the transformation of manufacturing firms from a product-orientation to a service orientation and involves radical changes in terms of processes, capabilities, and offerings. Despite the recognized importance of external collaboration in this transformative journey, the dynamics, challenges, and effective management approaches remain underexplored. By investigating servitization in inter-organizational constellations from multiple theoretical angles, this dissertation brings forth a multi-perspective approach. This approach unveils how servitization unfolds across organizational boundaries and how agile innovation approaches can facilitate this complex and unpredictable transformation. This dissertation extends the servitization and industrial marketing literature by putting forth a multi-perspective approach to study inter-organizational constellations. This approach leverages the unique strengths of IMP’s industrial network approach, Service-Dominant Logic’s service ecosystem perspective, and the business ecosystem perspective from the strategic management literature. By combining these perspectives, this dissertation sheds further light on the network-embedded nature of servitization and reveals that this transformation unfolds in multiple iterations that are characterized by inter-organizational tensions. These tensions arise from the disruptive nature of servitization, often leading to resistance from both internal and external stakeholders. However, these challenges also present vital opportunities for transformation and innovation. As tensions emerge in an unpredictable fashion, servitizing firms benefit from agile innovation approaches. These approaches provide the tools to work through complexity in inter-organizational constellations and respond to tensions when they emerge.The findings benefit managerial thinking about servitization by revealing the importance of an open and flexible managerial mindset, the necessity of embracing inter-organizational tensions stemming from diverging goals, perceptions, and expectations, and the role of agile innovation approaches. Agile methodologies provide a normative innovation framework that promotes the flexibility and open approach required for successful servitization. As such, this work offers actionable insights for practitioners aiming to navigate the servitization journey effectively