Could Global Software Development Benefit from Agile Methods?

TLDR

Agile methods emphasize continuous face‑to‑face communication, yet global software development faces significant communication challenges, making the application of agile practices in distributed settings difficult and understudied. The paper explores the potential benefits and challenges of adopting agile methods in global software development and outlines plans for future research in distributed companies. The authors plan to conduct empirical studies in companies using agile methods in distributed projects and to test agile principles in globally distributed student projects for industrial clients. Existing evidence shows that agile methods have been successfully applied in distributed projects, suggesting they can benefit global software development.

Abstract

At first glance, agile methods and global software development might seem incompatible. Agile methods stress continuous face-to-face communication, whereas communication has been reported as the biggest problem of global software development. One challenge to solve is how to apply agile practices in settings where continuous face-to-face interaction is missing. However, agile methods have been successfully used in distributed projects, indicating that they could benefit global software development. This paper discusses potential benefits and challenges of adopting agile methods in global software development. The literature on real industrial case studies reporting on experiences of using agile methods in distributed projects is still scarce. Therefore we suggest further research on the topic. We present our plans for research in companies using agile methods in their distributed projects. We also intend to test the use of agile principles in globally distributed student projects developing software for industrial clients