Introducing Agile Software Development Methodology (Scrum) into a Software Development Project at a Local Firm

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Type: 
Thesis
Year: 
2013
Students: 
Adham “Mohammad Wasfe” Hannoun
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Introducing Agile Software Development Methodology (Scrum) into a Software Development Project at a Local Firm3.52 MB
Abstract: 

The researcher tried to trade-off two different methodologies in a practical way through a case study done on a local firm, and supported it with a lot of interviews to analyze more results utilizing in both cases the qualitative approach. This research aims to investigate whether it is possible to achieve a notable progress in the process of the developing a SW project in many perspectives. By interviewing project managers, developers and SW engineers, and observing how Scrum was adopted in a local firm, the use of Scrum will be inspected. At the same time, the measures of progress within the project must be examined through literature studies. The adoption of Scrum will be compared to another project that has the same characteristics but was previously developed using the old traditional methodology. The research had many results and findings, like there are some minor differences between Scrum in general and Scrum applied in this research, and there are differences after applying Scrum in many firms in Palestine in comparison to the traditional way of development methodologies used for years also in Palestine. There was also a difference between how Scrum is explained in the literature and how the researcher has implemented it in the local firm after taking the feedback from other local firms for both traditional and agile methodologies. Some changes and additions need to be made to the usage of the Scrum as it is now, and a quality policy must be in place, used and continually improved based on feedback. It is also found that the customer has a big role if he is to commit to what his role dictates him to do. The researcher thinks that this research has a good contribution for the local market and for the local firm who adopted the research. This research is a trial to ask questions of why problems in this local market happen and how can we solve these problems. The researcher thinks that this research offers something new and hadn’t been searched a lot on the local market, and if really a formal result can be conducted from this research, then at least part of the problems should be solved, and the suffering of the IT customers and firms developing the system can be got rid of, which opens the door for more creativity in the field. After the case study finished, the researcher explored the views of the Scrum members involved in the project; they reported that a lot of the problems found in previous projects were solved and felt much better about their work and progress besides the new things that they have learned through this new way of work which they were aware of. This research also gave a great contribution to the local firm that adopted the research; it gave a clear assessment for the current way of current working procedures, a clear understanding of the concepts behind upgrading customer communications, testing acceptance and adapting changes within the work. Based on the research findings, local firms should perform studies and researches to determine the best methodologies of SW development that fits their business environment and fit the Palestinian market. Furthermore, firms should focus more on the customers. Moreover, there should be studies and researches to differentiate between huge, middle and small projects, to make sure that the new way is right and fit the firm business value. Eventually, a new better way of doing things can be arranged till this market –or at least part of it- reaches the state of art that is supposed to be.