Agile software development as a response to complexity

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Organisations are faced with ever increasing complexity. While there are many responses tocomplexity just as there are many definitions of complexity this thesis highlights the use ofagile software development as a useful method. The case of agile software development isinfluenced by its people first approach and minimal process implementation to implementconstraints in which phenomena of complexity can be understood.Chapter 1 introduces why complexity is relevant in the organisation today and the issuesassociated with complexity. A basic introduction to agile software development and why it isa response to complexity is tabled.Chapter 2 investigates the concepts of complexity. To highlight the difference between linearand non-linear systems and reductionistic thinking the ideas that not all things are complex isexplored. Key concepts of complex systems are described to come to a better understandingof what entails a complex system. Information theory and dynamic systems are discussedincluding system attributes such as attractors and bifurcations. Finally the theory of complexadaptive systems is presented and a classification of all complexity theories is tabled.Chapter 3 is centred on agile software development, presenting practices and processes as aunderstanding of how agile software development is applicable to complexity. Three agilemethods are identified.Chapter 4 presents the ideas of modelling and limits to understanding. Models of complexsystems are useful but are limited, due to the properties of complex systems. The concept ofmental models leads to models of organisations and how leaders need to help withtransformation of these models towards models that are more aligned to agile type thinking.Chapter 5 looks at the core concepts, and practices of agile applied to complexity and whythese are relevant in responding to complexity. Towards the end of chapter the role ofnarrative is explored in the terms of problem definition and solutioning in complex systems.Chapter 6 concludes the thesis with insights where agile software development is anappropriate response to complexity and the conditions in which it is not.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University