Scrum Practices in Global Software Development: A Research Framework

Abstract

Project stakeholder distribution in Global Software Development (GSD) is characterized by temporal, geographical and socio-cultural distance, which creates challenges for communication, coordination and control. Practitioners constantly seek strategies, practices and tools to counter the challenges of GSD. There is increasing interest in using Scrum in GSD even though it originally assumed collocation. However, empirically, little is known about how Scrum practices respond to the challenges of GSD. This paper develops a research framework from the literature as a basis for future research and practice. The framework maps current knowledge and views on how Scrum practices can be used to mitigate commonly recognized challenges in GSD. This research is useful as a reference guide for practitioners who are seeking to understand how Scrum practices can be used effectively in GSD, and for researchers as a research framework to validate and extend current knowledge.