Surveying the Relevance of the Critical Success Factors of Agile Transformation Initiatives from a Project Management Perspective

• Alessandra Fortuna UNIRIO
• Claudio Saraiva Mattos UNIRIO
• Álan Júnior Da Cruz Andrade UNIRIO
• Luiz Felipe Ramos UNIRIO
• Eliezer Dutra UNIRIO / CEFET-RJ
• Rodrigo Pereira Dos Santos UNIRIO
• Gleison Santos UNIRIO

Resumo

Background: Agile methods and practices have been consistently adopted in recent years as alternatives to traditional software development processes to address the ever-changing needs of IT organizations. In a previous systematic mapping study, we identified twelve critical success factors of agile transformations from a project management perspective. Objective: In this paper, we investigate how practitioners perceive the relevance of these factors and whether other factors should be considered. Method: We conducted a survey research involving project managers from several organizations undergoing agile transformations. Results: The participants’ perceptions provided valuable insights into the relevance of the critical success factors. Additionally, we identified five new critical success factors: organizational ambidexterity, use of tools and automation, breaking down organizational silos, team commitment, and alignment of organizational goals and expectations. These newly identified factors contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of organizations’ challenges during an agile transformation. Based on the results and the literature, we formulated three propositions representing recommendations that can foster agile transformation. Conclusions: The evidence gathered in this study indicates that the factors investigated previously are highly relevant. Moreover, organizations should consider them to enhance the chances of success of agile transformation initiatives.

Palavras-chave: Agile Transformation, Agile Software Development, Critical Success Factors, Project Management