Frequent and rapid technological shifts, market dynamics, and evolving customer demands compel organizations to adapt swiftly to maintain competitiveness. In our digital era, these changing demands have notably impacted software development. The resultant need for adaptability has led to the widespread adoption of agile software development methodologies, which thrive on responsiveness and flexibility. Initially proven effective on a smaller scale, larger enterprises have started to follow agile principles, giving rise to large-scale agile software development (LSAD).
The heightened complexity of applying agile methods at scale emphasizes the importance of knowledge distribution, generation, and inter-team collaboration. However, traditional agile practices at the team level often emphasize tacit knowledge and intra-team cooperation, which may need to be revised in the context of organizations comprising multiple interconnected agile teams. Introducing the concept of Communities of Practice (CoPs) can help fulfill this need; CoPs are communities of experts united by shared interests, convening to exchange insights and collectively enhance their understanding of certain topics. CoPs offer an opportunity to address cross-team challenges and facilitate the effective sharing and cultivation of knowledge at a broader organizational level.
Some researchers have investigated the concept of CoPs in agile environments, but still, no broad overview of the current research and its findings exists. To fill this gap, we conduct a systematic literature review to identify, classify, and evaluate what kind of research endeavors exist and analyze their findings.
Research Questions
RQ1: What research endeavors exist investigating CoPs in large-scale agile software development?
RQ2: What types of CoPs exist in large-scale agile software development?
RQ2: Why and how were the CoPs established?
RQ4: What role do these CoPs play in the organizational context, and how are they organized?
RQ5: What challenges and good practices exist?
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