Torres, Beatriz

Agile Methods Effectiveness in Digital Transformation: An Empirical Software Engineering Approach

Torres, Beatriz

Agile methods are increasingly essential for the success of software projects. These have also become strategic in the context of large, organization-wide digital transformation initiatives. Such endeavours involve larger projects and programs of multiple projects, where software engineering expertise is combined with more complex management practices, such as project risk analytics, digital strategy development, and digital product innovation. This thesis seeks to analyze the impact of agile methods in the context of digital transformation and assess if they are as effective as they are in regular software engineering contexts. An empirical software engineering approach is adopted, relying on primary sources to assess the effectiveness of agile methods from the viewpoint of practitioners. The methodology involves a survey of digital executives in Canada, and a Partial Least Squares (PLS) model to demonstrate key mediation hypotheses. The results of this thesis should provide a clearer perspective and recommendation for the adoption and adaptation of agile methods in the context of large digital transformation initiatives involving multiple software engineering teams.