Masters Degrees (Information Science)

Permanent URI for this collection

https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/628

Browse

Browsing Masters Degrees (Information Science) by Subject "Agile software development"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Agile software development as a response to complexity
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014-04) Pringle-Wood, Wayne Austen; Watson, Bruce W.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Information Science.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Organisations are faced with ever increasing complexity. While there are many responses to complexity just as there are many definitions of complexity this thesis highlights the use of agile software development as a useful method. The case of agile software development is influenced by its people first approach and minimal process implementation to implement constraints in which phenomena of complexity can be understood. Chapter 1 introduces why complexity is relevant in the organisation today and the issues associated with complexity. A basic introduction to agile software development and why it is a response to complexity is tabled. Chapter 2 investigates the concepts of complexity. To highlight the difference between linear and non-linear systems and reductionistic thinking the ideas that not all things are complex is explored. Key concepts of complex systems are described to come to a better understanding of what entails a complex system. Information theory and dynamic systems are discussed including system attributes such as attractors and bifurcations. Finally the theory of complex adaptive systems is presented and a classification of all complexity theories is tabled. Chapter 3 is centred on agile software development, presenting practices and processes as a understanding of how agile software development is applicable to complexity. Three agile methods are identified. Chapter 4 presents the ideas of modelling and limits to understanding. Models of complex systems are useful but are limited, due to the properties of complex systems. The concept of mental models leads to models of organisations and how leaders need to help with transformation of these models towards models that are more aligned to agile type thinking. Chapter 5 looks at the core concepts, and practices of agile applied to complexity and why these are relevant in responding to complexity. Towards the end of chapter the role of narrative is explored in the terms of problem definition and solutioning in complex systems. Chapter 6 concludes the thesis with insights where agile software development is an appropriate response to complexity and the conditions in which it is not.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Agile software development practices in remote working contexts : a systematic literature review
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-12) Ibrahim, Mohamed Zaakir; Parry, Douglas; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Information Science.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY: Agile software development in today’s organisations has become increasingly remote-oriented. The accelerated adoption of global software development and enterprise social media in remote working contexts has been shown to have the potential to alleviate remote work challenges in the software industry, particularly since the inception of the Covid-19 pandemic. Media and tools pose profound implications for agile methods and practices in distributed agile software development. The objective of this study is to explore the agile practices, tools, roles, and unique challenges that describe project management in the context of global software development. Three key aspects of agile global software development are focused on: agile methods, agile practices and, the various distribution scenarios in which development occurs. Previously studies have focused on reporting the successful application of agile practices and distribution scenarios in global software development. However, less focus has been placed on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on agile global software development practices in general. In this study, a systematic review approach is adopted in order to update research in this domain and gather the data necessary to further understand the usage of agile methods and practices in various remote working scenarios. In this regard, the review consisted of identifying portals to search for relevant papers using the Stellenbosch University library. Through a systematic review process these selected and studied papers provided a number of useful themes describing many aspects of agile software development in remote working contexts, relating to agile methods, practices, and the challenges thereof. Synthesizing all of the themes, the main contribution of this study to this domain is the finding that team members in global software development were faced with similar challenges when collaborating remotely with communication media. In addition to this, this study identified that Scrum-orientated practices, and Scrum methods and Scrum in combination with other agile methods remained the most frequently adopted in remote working contexts. Ultimately, given that this project represents the continuation of an ongoing research tradition in this domain, this project provides a mile-marker for the current state of agile methods in the context of global software development. Current trends are identified, explained, and compared to the recent past, with open questions framed for future investigation.