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Exploring Agility in Distributed Information Systems Development Teams: An Interpretive Study in an Offshoring Context

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  • Saonee Sarker

    (Department of Information Systems, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164)

  • Suprateek Sarker

    (Centre for Applied Information and Communication Technologies, Copenhagen Business School, Frederiksberg, DK-2000 Denmark)

Abstract

Agility is increasingly being seen as an essential element underlying the effectiveness of globally distributed information systems development (ISD) teams today. However, for a variety of reasons, such teams are often unable develop and enact agility in dealing with changing situations. This paper seeks to provide a deeper understanding of agility through an intensive study of the distributed ISD experience in TECHCOM, an organization widely recognized for its excellence in IT development and use. The study reveals that agility should be viewed as a multifaceted concept having three dimensions: resource, process, and linkage. Resource agility is based on the distributed development team's access to necessary human and technological resources. Process agility pertains to the agility that originates in the team's systems development method guiding the project, its environmental scanning, and sense-making routines to anticipate possible crises, and its work practices enabling collaboration across time zones. Linkage agility arises from the nature of interactional relationships within the distributed team and with relevant project stakeholders, and is composed of cultural and communicative elements. The paper highlights some of the difficulties in developing agility in distributed ISD settings, provides actionable tactics, and suggests contingencies wherein different facets of agility may become more (or less) critical.

Suggested Citation

  • Saonee Sarker & Suprateek Sarker, 2009. "Exploring Agility in Distributed Information Systems Development Teams: An Interpretive Study in an Offshoring Context," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(3), pages 440-461, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:20:y:2009:i:3:p:440-461
    DOI: 10.1287/isre.1090.0241
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    2. Rima Zitkiene & Mindaugas Deksnys, 2018. "Organizational Agility Conceptual Model," Montenegrin Journal of Economics, Economic Laboratory for Transition Research (ELIT), vol. 14(2), pages 115-129.
    3. Tyge-F. Kummer & Jan Leimeister & Markus Bick, 2012. "On the Importance of National Culture for the Design of Information Systems," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 4(6), pages 317-330, December.
    4. Markus Hummel & Christoph Rosenkranz & Roland Holten, 2013. "The Role of Communication in Agile Systems Development," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 5(5), pages 343-355, October.
    5. Jonathon N. Cummings & J. Alberto Espinosa & Cynthia K. Pickering, 2009. "Crossing Spatial and Temporal Boundaries in Globally Distributed Projects: A Relational Model of Coordination Delay," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(3), pages 420-439, September.
    6. Deanna House, 2012. "Factors that Inhibit Globally Distributed Software Development Teams," International Journal of Business and Social Research, LAR Center Press, vol. 2(6), pages 135-153, November.
    7. Hendrik van der Valk & Hendrik Haße & Frederik Möller & Boris Otto, 2022. "Archetypes of Digital Twins," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 64(3), pages 375-391, June.
    8. Mírian Oliveira & Kaytson Hartung & Marcelo Wendling, 2010. "Outsourcing And Offshore: An Analysis Of The Academic Literature," Portuguese Journal of Management Studies, ISEG, Universidade de Lisboa, vol. 0(2), pages 215-234.
    9. Michael L. Harris & Rosann Webb Collins & Alan R. Hevner, 2009. "Control of Flexible Software Development Under Uncertainty," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(3), pages 400-419, September.
    10. Alexander Stetten & Daniel Beimborn & Tim Weitzel, 2012. "Analyzing and Managing the Impact of Cultural Behavior Patterns on Social Capital in Multinational IT Project Teams," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 4(3), pages 137-151, June.
    11. Jaime B. Windeler & Likoebe Maruping & Viswanath Venkatesh, 2017. "Technical Systems Development Risk Factors: The Role of Empowering Leadership in Lowering Developers’ Stress," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 28(4), pages 775-796, December.
    12. Deanna House, 2012. "Factors that Inhibit Globally Distributed Software Development Teams," International Journal of Business and Social Research, MIR Center for Socio-Economic Research, vol. 2(6), pages 135-153, November.
    13. Saonee Sarker & Manju Ahuja & Suprateek Sarker, 2018. "Work–Life Conflict of Globally Distributed Software Development Personnel: An Empirical Investigation Using Border Theory," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 29(1), pages 103-126, March.
    14. Hendrik Haße & Hendrik Valk & Frederik Möller & Boris Otto, 2022. "Design Principles for Shared Digital Twins in Distributed Systems," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 64(6), pages 751-772, December.
    15. Shams, Riad & Vrontis, Demetris & Belyaeva, Zhanna & Ferraris, Alberto & Czinkota, Michael R., 2021. "Strategic agility in international business: A conceptual framework for “agile” multinationals," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).
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    17. Sumantra Sarkar & Anthony Vance & Balasubramaniam Ramesh & Menelaos Demestihas & Daniel Thomas Wu, 2020. "The Influence of Professional Subculture on Information Security Policy Violations: A Field Study in a Healthcare Context," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 31(4), pages 1240-1259, December.

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