Mike KipreosFollow

Date

8-2019

Department

Graduate School of Business

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Chair

Allen Harper

Keywords

Agile, Leadership Style, UTAUT, Waterfall, MLQ-5X

Disciplines

Business | Computer Sciences

Abstract

Public and private organizations continue to rely prohibitively on classic software development methodologies such as the waterfall. Private industry more so than the public sector has shown evidence for a higher rate of success when using agile software development methods. Consequently, the purpose of this quantitative correlation study was to examine variables that best predict the adoption of agile methodologies in software development. The study made use of the UTAUT and MLQ–5X surveys. The primary variable under study was leadership style. Secondary variables included: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating factors. A pilot study (N = 30) was conducted in order to evaluate the validity of the study. This was closely followed by a formal study of 384 panelist. Multiple regression was performed against each of the variables along with a hierarchical regression at the end of the study. The regression equation that resulted accounted for 56.4% of the variance in the behavioral intent to adopt agile methods. Leadership style, specifically transformational (Inspirational motivation) was found to have a positive impact on the adoption of agile methods. Facilitating, social influence, effort expectancy, and performance expectancy also had a positive impact on the adoption of agile methods while individual consideration (transformational leadership) had a negative impact on the adoption of agile methods. Implications and recommendations for future research are subsequently presented.

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