Experience Report: The Social Nature of Agile Teams

Agile software development is often, but not always, associated with the term dasiaproject chemistry,psila or the positive team climate that can contribute to high performance. A qualitative study involving 22 participants in agile teams sought to explore this connection, and answer the question: what aspects of agile software development are related to team cohesion? The following is a discussion of participant experiences as seen through a socio-psychological lens. It draws from social-identity theory and socio-psychological literature to explain, not only how, but why agile methodologies support teamwork and collective progress. Agile practices are shown to produce a socio-psychological environment of high-performance, with many of the practical benefits of agile practices being supported and mediated by social and personal concerns.