Context agnostic agility assessment model

This dissertation proposes an assessment model and a methodology for measuring the degree of agility within software development organizations. Motivating out of the need to bridge the gap between theory and practice, this dissertation elaborates on the role and the utility of agile maturity assessment models, identified as potential instruments for narrowing the gap. A critical analysis of the existing models and comparative studies reveals that the existing models are either not comprehensive or not practically applicable, resulting in misalignment with industry expectations. Combining the learning outcomes of the existing models with the industrial perspective, we introduce a novel agility assessment model rooted in the principles and values of the Agile Manifesto. The proposed model guides organizations by increasing transparency through self-reflection, emphasizing the importance of autonomy for today’s knowledge workers. The Context Agnostic Agility Assessment Model (CA3M) enables this through an adaptive evaluation mechanism capable of assessing organizations’ degree of agility in varying organizational contexts, with respect to their self set targets. CA3M’s structure, content, completeness and the suitability for its intended purpose have been validated through multiple case studies, demonstrating alignment with experiences and expectations of industry professionals. The assessment model emphasizes the importance of understanding the “Why” behind the relevance of agility and the “How” for becoming agile. Having the intention of going back to the roots two decades after the release of the Agile Manifesto, the outcome of this research indicates that the developed model and the methodology serves as a valuable artifact for organizations.