IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/inm/orisre/v30y2019i4p1145-1163.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How Pair Programming Influences Team Performance: The Role of Backup Behavior, Shared Mental Models, and Task Novelty

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas Kude

    (ESSEC Business School, 95021 Cergy-Pontoise, France)

  • Sunil Mithas

    (Muma College of Business, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620)

  • Christoph T. Schmidt

    (Boston Consulting Group, 80539 Munich, Germany)

  • Armin Heinzl

    (Business School, University of Mannheim, 68131 Mannheim, Germany)

Abstract

This study examines the team-level effects of pair programming by developing a research model that accounts for mediators and moderators of the relationship between pair programming and team performance. We hypothesize that pair programming helps software development teams establish backup behavior by strengthening the shared mental models among developers. In turn, backup behavior attenuates the negative effect of task novelty on team performance. We collect data from the software developers, Scrum masters, and product owners of 62 software development teams in a global enterprise software firm and find broad support for our research model. The study makes important contributions by shifting attention to the team-level effects of pair programming and by explicating mediating and moderating mechanisms related to the roles of shared mental models, backup behavior, and task novelty. The results underline the importance of viewing pair programming as a context-specific practice that helps establish backup behavior in teams. In terms of implications for practitioners, our results show that pair programming can be a valuable element of team governance to create shared mental models and backup behavior and to achieve high team performance when teams face high levels of task novelty.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Kude & Sunil Mithas & Christoph T. Schmidt & Armin Heinzl, 2019. "How Pair Programming Influences Team Performance: The Role of Backup Behavior, Shared Mental Models, and Task Novelty," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 30(4), pages 1145-1163, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:30:y:2019:i:4:p:1145-1163
    DOI: 10.1287/isre.2019.0856
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2019.0856
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1287/isre.2019.0856?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wai Fong Boh & Sandra A. Slaughter & J. Alberto Espinosa, 2007. "Learning from Experience in Software Development: A Multilevel Analysis," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 53(8), pages 1315-1331, August.
    2. Richard Vidgen & Xiaofeng Wang, 2009. "Coevolving Systems and the Organization of Agile Software Development," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(3), pages 355-376, September.
    3. Rajiv D. Banker & Sandra A. Slaughter, 2000. "The Moderating Effects of Structure on Volatility and Complexity in Software Enhancement," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 11(3), pages 219-240, September.
    4. Gersick, Connie J. G. & Hackman, J. Richard, 1990. "Habitual routines in task-performing groups," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 65-97, October.
    5. Keongtae Kim & Sunil Mithas & Jonathan Whitaker & Prasanto K. Roy, 2014. "Research Note —Industry-Specific Human Capital and Wages: Evidence from the Business Process Outsourcing Industry," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 25(3), pages 618-638, September.
    6. Dave Yates & Christian Wagner & Ann Majchrzak, 2010. "Factors affecting shapers of organizational wikis," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 61(3), pages 543-554, March.
    7. Sarma Nidumolu, 1995. "The Effect of Coordination and Uncertainty on Software Project Performance: Residual Performance Risk as an Intervening Variable," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 6(3), pages 191-219, September.
    8. 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.
    9. Balasubramaniam Ramesh & Kannan Mohan & Lan Cao, 2012. "Ambidexterity in Agile Distributed Development: An Empirical Investigation," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 23(2), pages 323-339, June.
    10. Kieran Conboy, 2009. "Agility from First Principles: Reconstructing the Concept of Agility in Information Systems Development," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(3), pages 329-354, September.
    11. Patricia J. Guinan & Jay G. Cooprider & Samer Faraj, 1998. "Enabling Software Development Team Performance During Requirements Definition: A Behavioral Versus Technical Approach," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 9(2), pages 101-125, June.
    12. 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.
    13. Samer Faraj & Lee Sproull, 2000. "Coordinating Expertise in Software Development Teams," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 46(12), pages 1554-1568, December.
    14. Dave Yates & Christian Wagner & Ann Majchrzak, 2010. "Factors affecting shapers of organizational wikis," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 61(3), pages 543-554, March.
    15. Milind Dawande & Monica Johar & Subodha Kumar & Vijay S. Mookerjee, 2008. "A Comparison of Pair Versus Solo Programming Under Different Objectives: An Analytical Approach," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 19(1), pages 71-92, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jonathan Whitaker & Sunil Mithas & Che-Wei Liu, 2019. "Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder: Toward a Contextual Understanding of Compensation of Information Technology Professionals Within and Across Geographies," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 30(3), pages 892-911, September.
    2. Alexander Benlian, 2022. "Sprint Zeal or Sprint Fatigue? The Benefits and Burdens of Agile ISD Practices Use for Developer Well-Being," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 33(2), pages 557-578, June.
    3. Terence J. V. Saldanha & Dongwon Lee & Sunil Mithas, 2020. "Aligning Information Technology and Business: The Differential Effects of Alignment During Investment Planning, Delivery, and Change," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 31(4), pages 1260-1281, December.
    4. Salman Nazir & Brad Price & Nanda C. Surendra & Katherine Kopp, 2022. "Adapting agile development practices for hyper-agile environments: lessons learned from a COVID-19 emergency response research project," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 193-211, September.
    5. Jiban Khuntia & Raveesh Mayya & Sunil Mithas & Ritu Agarwal, 2021. "Managing Cellphone Services for Customer Satisfaction: Evidence from the Base‐of‐the‐Pyramid Markets," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(2), pages 438-450, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. 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.
    2. Henrik Bresman, 2010. "External Learning Activities and Team Performance: A Multimethod Field Study," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 21(1), pages 81-96, February.
    3. Alexander Benlian, 2022. "Sprint Zeal or Sprint Fatigue? The Benefits and Burdens of Agile ISD Practices Use for Developer Well-Being," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 33(2), pages 557-578, June.
    4. Krishnaswamy N. & Selvarasu A., 2016. "Exploring interrelationship between three performance indicators with PMI’s Nine Knowledge Areas for successful Project Management," International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, vol. 6(3), pages 1162-1162.
    5. Diane E. Strode, 2016. "A dependency taxonomy for agile software development projects," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 23-46, February.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. Likoebe M. Maruping & Viswanath Venkatesh & Ritu Agarwal, 2009. "A Control Theory Perspective on Agile Methodology Use and Changing User Requirements," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(3), pages 377-399, September.
    9. Viswanath Venkatesh & Arun Rai & Likoebe M. Maruping, 2018. "Information Systems Projects and Individual Developer Outcomes: Role of Project Managers and Process Control," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 29(1), pages 127-148, March.
    10. Edward G. Anderson & Kyle Lewis, 2014. "A Dynamic Model of Individual and Collective Learning Amid Disruption," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 25(2), pages 356-376, April.
    11. Hung, Yu Wen & Hsu, Shih-Chieh & Su, Zhi-Yuan & Huang, Hsieh-Hong, 2014. "Countering user risk in information system development projects," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 533-545.
    12. Gerald C. Kane & Jeremiah Johnson & Ann Majchrzak, 2014. "Emergent Life Cycle: The Tension Between Knowledge Change and Knowledge Retention in Open Online Coproduction Communities," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 60(12), pages 3026-3048, December.
    13. Robert S. Huckman & Bradley R. Staats, 2008. "Variation in Experience and Team Familiarity: Addressing the Knowledge Acquisition-Application Problem," Harvard Business School Working Papers 09-035, Harvard Business School.
    14. Robert S. Huckman & Bradley R. Staats, 2011. "Fluid Tasks and Fluid Teams: The Impact of Diversity in Experience and Team Familiarity on Team Performance," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 13(3), pages 310-328, July.
    15. Haberstroh, Martin & Wolf, Joachim, 2005. "Individuelle Autonomie in Projektteams," Manuskripte aus den Instituten für Betriebswirtschaftslehre der Universität Kiel 585, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Institut für Betriebswirtschaftslehre.
    16. Vanita Yadav, 2016. "A Flexible Management Approach for Globally Distributed Software Projects," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 17(1), pages 29-40, March.
    17. Shubham Gupta & Abhishek Roy & Subodha Kumar & Ram Mudambi, 2023. "When Worse Is Better: Strategic Choice of Vendors with Differentiated Capabilities in a Complex Cocreation Environment," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(5), pages 2833-2851, May.
    18. Bresciani, Stefano & Ferraris, Alberto & Del Giudice, Manlio, 2018. "The management of organizational ambidexterity through alliances in a new context of analysis: Internet of Things (IoT) smart city projects," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 331-338.
    19. Ray Reagans & Ella Miron-Spektor & Linda Argote, 2016. "Knowledge Utilization, Coordination, and Team Performance," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 27(5), pages 1108-1124, October.
    20. Samer Faraj & Sirkka L. Jarvenpaa & Ann Majchrzak, 2011. "Knowledge Collaboration in Online Communities," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(5), pages 1224-1239, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:30:y:2019:i:4:p:1145-1163. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Asher (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/inforea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.