TY - GEN
T1 - Agile vs. plan-driven perceptions of software architecture
AU - Hadar, Irit
AU - Sherman, Sofia
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - The use of agile methodologies in industry has increased significantly over the past decade, promoting the value of human-centric software development process. This growing use derives the need to adjust agile methodologies to bigger, more complex system development projects, where architecture plays a significant role. However, many believe that an essential conflict exists between the requirement of minimalism in agile methods and the need for well-defined and documented architecture in complex systems. This paper presents an exploratory study aimed at understanding the software architecture related activities as perceived by architects with and without experience in agile methodologies. The findings indicate that while architects practicing only plan-driven methodologies perceive architecture activities as being related only to the first phases of the development process, architects involved in agile projects perceive architecture activities to be related to most or all phases of the development lifecycle. The latter perceptions are consistent with suggestions expressed in the literature regarding architecture in general and in agile methodologies in particular. Based on these findings we suggest that agile methods not only lead architects to adjust their behavior to the agile philosophy, but also improve architects' perceptions and practice of architecture in general.
AB - The use of agile methodologies in industry has increased significantly over the past decade, promoting the value of human-centric software development process. This growing use derives the need to adjust agile methodologies to bigger, more complex system development projects, where architecture plays a significant role. However, many believe that an essential conflict exists between the requirement of minimalism in agile methods and the need for well-defined and documented architecture in complex systems. This paper presents an exploratory study aimed at understanding the software architecture related activities as perceived by architects with and without experience in agile methodologies. The findings indicate that while architects practicing only plan-driven methodologies perceive architecture activities as being related only to the first phases of the development process, architects involved in agile projects perceive architecture activities to be related to most or all phases of the development lifecycle. The latter perceptions are consistent with suggestions expressed in the literature regarding architecture in general and in agile methodologies in particular. Based on these findings we suggest that agile methods not only lead architects to adjust their behavior to the agile philosophy, but also improve architects' perceptions and practice of architecture in general.
KW - agile methodology
KW - development methodologies
KW - qualitative research
KW - software architecture
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84864134241&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/CHASE.2012.6223022
DO - 10.1109/CHASE.2012.6223022
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84864134241
SN - 9781467318242
T3 - 2012 5th International Workshop on Co-operative and Human Aspects of Software Engineering, CHASE 2012 - Proceedings
SP - 50
EP - 55
BT - 2012 5th International Workshop on Co-operative and Human Aspects of Software Engineering, CHASE 2012 - Proceedings
T2 - 2012 5th International Workshop on Co-operative and Human Aspects of Software Engineering, CHASE 2012
Y2 - 2 June 2012 through 2 June 2012
ER -