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Cited by 37Software Engineering Techniques and PracticesOpen Source Software InnovationsAdvanced Software Engineering Methodologies

Factors affecting Agile adoption: An industry research study of the mobile app sector in Saudi Arabia

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Altuwaijri, Fahad S., Ferrario, Maria Angela·2022·Journal of Systems and Software
DOI 10.1016/j.jss.2022.111347
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Abstract

Agile is an established software development methodology that helps develop software by improving time to market, quality, customer engagement and reducing costs. Factors underpinning its adoption have been widely researched. However, most of these studies have been conducted in developed countries, particularly Europe and North America, with only a handful carried out in developing countries, including the Middle East. This is problematic given the strategic and economic importance of the software industry in such places as Saudi Arabia, where Agile adoption remains in the early stages, despite heavy investment in this industry in recent years to diversify its oil-dependent economy. Therefore, this study empirically investigates the factors influencing Agile adoption by Saudi Arabian software small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). To this end, in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 software practitioners from three software SMEs. Our findings reveal that human factors, such as customer involvement, team capability, organisational culture and national culture, are considered the most impactful factors affecting the adoption of Agile as opposed to technical ones, such as the availability of specific tools or techniques.

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Cited by

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Authors
Altuwaijri, F. S., & Ferrario, M. A.
Affiliations
  • Qassim University (SA)
  • Queen's University Belfast (GB)
Corresponding author
Altuwaijri, Fahad S.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Systems and Software
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-08
Volume
190
Pages
111347
ISSN
0164-1212 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jss.2022.111347
OpenAlex
W4224510357
Cited by
37
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 1
FWCI
8.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Systems and Software (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Portal (Queen's University Belfast) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Lancaster EPrints (Lancaster University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Qassim University
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/R009600/1)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Software Engineering Techniques and Practices
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Science Applications › Open Source Software Innovations
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Advanced Software Engineering Methodologies
Keywords
agile adoption, agile software development, mobile application development, software SMEs, Saudi Arabia, customer involvement, team competence, organizational culture, national culture, human factors

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