Adaptation of Open Up in the Scrum Framework to Improve Compliance in Scope, Risk Management and Delivery Times in Software Development Projects

Abstract

This study consisted of adapting artifacts and practices from the Open Up development method in Scrum to improve compliance in scope, risk management and delivery times in software development projects. The practices (administrative, technical and deployment) and artefacts of Open Up were adapted in planning events, Sprint and Scrum retrospectives. Improvements were measured by indicators with the following results; in scope: delivery deadlines met (66% to 95%) and missed milestones (80% to 0%); in risk management: number of risks (from 4 to 3) and risk identification (from 4 to 9) which means a reduction in incidence from 100% to 33%; and, in time compliance: project delay (53% to 13%) and in delayed tasks (42.50% to 31.75%). The effects of the adaptation were: the development of plans was improved, the control of the evolution of the architecture of the product was improved as well as the deliveries were better planned. This study is relevant because it allows orienting software development projects where there is a need to follow plans based on prescriptive and normative contexts of an organization and at the same time have an agile approach. The results conclude that the adaptation improved the project with a surpassed learning curve; it is useful in prescriptive and agile development environments. It is suggested to replicate the study under similar conditions and/or other indicators.