Technical Debt and Agile Software Development Practices and Processes: An Industry Practitioner Survey

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aut.relation.journalInformation and Software Technologyen_NZ
aut.researcherMacDonell, Stephen
dc.contributor.authorHolvitie, Jen_NZ
dc.contributor.authorLicorish, SAen_NZ
dc.contributor.authorSpínola, ROen_NZ
dc.contributor.authorHyrynsalmi, Sen_NZ
dc.contributor.authorMacDonell, Sen_NZ
dc.contributor.authorMendes, TSen_NZ
dc.contributor.authorBuchan, Jen_NZ
dc.contributor.authorLeppänen, Ven_NZ
dc.date.accessioned2018-01-09T01:17:33Z
dc.date.available2018-01-09T01:17:33Z
dc.date.copyright2017en_NZ
dc.date.issued2017en_NZ
dc.description.abstractContext: Contemporary software development is typically conducted in dynamic, resource-scarce environments that are prone to the accumulation of technical debt. While this general phenomenon is acknowledged, what remains unknown is how technical debt specifically manifests in and affects software processes, and how the software development techniques employed accommodate or mitigate the presence of this debt. Objectives: We sought to draw on practitioner insights and experiences in order to classify the effects of agile method use on technical debt management, given the popularity and perceived success of agile methods. We explore the breadth of practitioners’ knowledge about technical debt; how technical debt is manifested across the software process; and the perceived effects of common agile software development practices and processes on technical debt. In doing so, we address a research gap in technical debt knowledge and provide novel and actionable managerial recommendations. Method: We designed, tested and executed a multi-national survey questionnaire to address our objectives, receiving 184 responses from practitioners in Brazil, Finland, and New Zealand. Results: Our findings indicate that: 1) Practitioners are aware of technical debt, although, there was under utilization of the concept, 2) Technical debt commonly resides in legacy systems, however, concrete instances of technical debt are hard to conceptualize which makes it problematic to manage, 3) Queried agile practices and processes help to reduce technical debt; in particular, techniques that verify and maintain the structure and clarity of implemented artifacts (e.g., Coding standards and Refactoring) positively affect technical debt management. Conclusions: The fact that technical debt instances tend to have characteristics in common means that a systematic approach to its management is feasible. However, notwithstanding the positive effects of some agile practices on technical debt management, competing stakeholders’ interests remain a concern.
dc.identifier.citationInformation and Software Technology, doi: 10.1016/j.infsof.2017.11.015
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.infsof.2017.11.015en_NZ
dc.identifier.issn0950-5849en_NZ
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10292/11058
dc.publisherElsevieren_NZ
dc.relation.urihttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950584917305098
dc.rights© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY/4.0/).
dc.rights.accessrightsOpenAccessen_NZ
dc.subjectTechnical debt; Technical debt management; Agile software development; Practitioner survey
dc.titleTechnical Debt and Agile Software Development Practices and Processes: An Industry Practitioner Surveyen_NZ
dc.typeJournal Article
pubs.elements-id322189
pubs.organisational-data/AUT
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Design & Creative Technologies
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/Design & Creative Technologies/Engineering, Computer & Mathematical Sciences
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF/PBRF Design and Creative Technologies
pubs.organisational-data/AUT/PBRF/PBRF Design and Creative Technologies/PBRF ECMS
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