Adaptation of an Agile Information System Development Method

Abstract

Little specific research has been conducted to date on the adaptation of agile information systems development (ISD) methods. This chapter presents the work practice in dealing with the adaptation of such a method in the ISD department of one of the leading financial institutes in Europe. The chapter introduces the idea of method adaptation as an underlying phenomenon concerning how an agile method has been adapted to a project situation or vice versa in the case organization. In this respect, method adaptation is conceptualized as a process or capability in which agents holding intentions through responsive changes in, and dynamic interplays between, contexts and method fragments determine an appropriate method for a specific project situation. Two forms of method adaptation, static adaptation and dynamic adaptation, are introduced and discussed in detail. We provide some insights plus an instrument that the ISD department studied uses to deal with the dynamic method adaptation. To enhance our understanding of the observed practice, we take into account two complementary perspectives: the engineering perspective and the socio-organizational perspective. Practical and theoretical implications of this study are discussed.