A Reference Model Based on Agile Values, Principles and Aspects of Scrum, XP and Kanban to Foster the Adoption of Agility in Industry

Abstract

Currently, there is a broad range of software development agile approaches mainly based on the values and principles definedin the agile manifesto (AM); however, in many cases, their implementation is carried out informally and without being aligned with thevalues and principles stated. In practice, practitioners and consultants may lose sight of the AM recommendations, which couldjeopardize the companies’ agility; therefore, applying an agile approach does not make a company agile. In this article, we present areference model called AgilityRef, which allows practitioners to support the understanding and implementation of the values andprinciples of the agile manifesto in the software development processes of a company, this, through twenty-two aspects defined fromrelations established between principles and values described in the AM and processes elements described in Scrum, XP and Kanban.The evaluation of AgilityRef was carried out through a focus group where its completeness, understandability and suitability wereevaluated. Our findings suggest good enough acceptance by professionals and consultants who evaluated the proposal. The proposedreference model seems to allow professionals and companies to improve the understanding and implementation in practice of theconcept of agility in their companies’ software development processes, thus, minimizing the subjectivity and error of their processadoption, implementation, evaluation and articulation with the principles and values of the agile manifesto.