Agile Practices, Collaboration and Experience

Agile Software Development has been around for more than fifteen years and is now widespread. How does experience effect the application of agile methods in organizations and what are the implications on the individual and organizational culture? This paper presents in-depth analysis of the Swiss Agile Study 2014. Switzerland offers an illustrative microcosm of software development, with a range of industry domains and sizes, and well-educated and internationally aware professionals. The study included more than a hundred professionals and managers, contacted through professional and industry associations. The topics addressed included experience with Agile development, motivations for adopting it, barriers perceived, specific practices used, and specific benefits realized. Analysis of the data identified important trends and differences. Agile experience seems to be an important factor, which affects many aspects of practice and workplace culture. More troubling is that it appears stress and overwork may be common among Agile professionals. All these findings illustrate important differences between Agile processes as prescribed, and as actually practiced.