IADIS International Journal on Computer Science and Information Systems

Published by IADIS (International Association for Development of the Information Society) • ISSN (Online): 1646-3692 • ISSN (Print): 1646-3692
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The Influence of National Culture Dimensions on Agile Practices: the Case of South African Software Development Teams

Kirwin B Matthews *
Maureen C Tanner *
* University of Cape Town, South Africa (Portugal)
* University of Cape Town, South Africa (Portugal)

Abstract

Culture influences how agile frameworks are implemented, and agility is said to be suitable in contexts where flexibility and spontaneity are emphasized. While past studies have investigated the influence of national culture on Agile implementations and practices in Western and Eastern contexts, studies focusing on a South African software development context is limited. Furthermore, few studies have focused on the effect of cultural differences within software engineering in general. The purpose of this st udy is to describe how national culture influences Agile practices within the South African software development context. In particular, the Hofstede, GLOBE and Schwartz frameworks of national culture were considered. The study was interpretive and was exe cuted using a qualitative, semi - structured interview research strategy directed at Agile practitioners in South African software development teams. The thematic analysis technique was used to analyze the data. Eleven propositions were formulated to highlight how national culture dimensions influence Agile practices. The findings reveal that various national culture dimensions influence the decision-making process, the degree of Sprint interruptions, participation in Agile ceremonies, adherence to policies and prescribed Agile practices, how teams reach agreement, approaches to process improvement and Sprint Planning . The dimensions also influence the extent to which team members are encouraged to have fun and their work-life balance, commitment to achieving Sprint Goals and the sustainable working pace , the Definition of β€œDone”, blocker management, how commitments are made, team cohesion, preparation for and outcomes of Sprint Retrospective, as well as the degree to which the Scrum Master is task-focused or people-focused.

Keywords

Agile Software Development National Culture Agile Practices South Africa
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Funding: This research received academic dissemination support through ESCAP / JournalsHub publishing programs.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no competing financial or institutional interests.
Peer Review: Double-blind peer reviewed by international subject specialists.
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
How to Cite This Article
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Matthews, et al. (2022). The Influence of National Culture Dimensions on Agile Practices: the Case of South African Software Development Teams. IADIS International Journal on Computer Science and Information Systems, 17(2). https://doi.org/10.33965/ijcsis_2022_v17i2_07
Matthews, et al. "The Influence of National Culture Dimensions on Agile Practices: the Case of South African Software Development Teams." IADIS International Journal on Computer Science and Information Systems, vol. 17, no. 2, 2022. https://doi.org/10.33965/ijcsis_2022_v17i2_07
Matthews, et al. "The Influence of National Culture Dimensions on Agile Practices: the Case of South African Software Development Teams." IADIS International Journal on Computer Science and Information Systems 17, no. 2 (2022). https://doi.org/10.33965/ijcsis_2022_v17i2_07