Is Agile Scrum Improving IT Project Outcomes?

Abstract

The publication of the Agile Manifesto in 2001 gave rise to a range of Agile project management methodologies with Agile Scrum particularly prevalent. Agile’s incremental and iterative nature appearing to serve many project contexts and needs over the more traditional, planned project management approach. Agile’s more visceral insight of customer needs, exposing and developing understanding along the journey, appeals to many projects where scope development is not easily articulated or necessarily clear. On the surface it looks distinctly beneficial in helping customers achieve end results. The following outlines a study undertaken of IT professionals to understand if Agile Scrum does deliver the benefits its system alludes to. This study surveyed 88 Agile Scrum IT professionals to determine their views on the efficacy of using such a system, particularly over previous traditional approaches. The survey data collected was statistically analysed using SPSS, and critically assessed. The limitations of its findings are noted along with recommendations for further research. The study findings suggest that across the project measures of cost control, schedule management and scope handling, no demonstrative benefit was derived from the adoption of Agile Scrum. However, the findings did indicate moderate gains in the measures of quality control, benefits realization, stakeholder connection and as a result overall project satisfaction. Notwithstanding these benefits, the implication was they were modest and not the across-the-board step improvement anticipated. It suggests a more forensic search for the drivers of project success needs to be undertaken of system development to achieve a wholistic outcome.