Critical Success Factors for the Application of Agile Methodology in IT Telecommunication Projects: a Mixed Method Research Approach
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Critical Success Factors for the Application of Agile Methodology in IT Telecommunication Projects: A Mixed Method Research Approach Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration 2020 Ahmed Adel Abdel Fattah Mohamed © Ahmed Mohamed, 2020 Doctor of Business Administration. This thesis is copyright material and no quotation from it may be published without proper acknowledgement. Page 1 of 307 Abstract This research project reflects an In-depth analysis of the critical success factors associated with the application of Agile project management methodology in the IT telecommunication domain in the region of the Middle East and Africa. The agile project management approach has proven to be effective in the area of IT telecommunications. The agile project management approach in the field of digital services and managed services are essential for the success of the project. The goal of this research project was to determine the critical success factors linked to people and organisational factors and the perceived success of software development initiatives in the two realms of managed services and digital services. This research is an explanatory study with a more in-depth emphasis on the contribution of five critical variables (Team Size, Team Communication, Team Performance, Customer Involvement, and Management Involvement) to the performance of agile projects. The researcher used the sequential explanatory mixed approach as a technique. Random sampling was extended to survey operators with a cross-sectional time horizon. Purposive sampling was extended to the interviewees to reach a consensus and answer the three research questions. A total of a hundred and ten study participants replied to the survey, and five interviewees contributed to the study. Here, the researcher shows the agile project management approach to be practical as applicable to managed services and digital services. Team size between five and nine has proved successful, team communication using daily standups or video conference during pandemic proves to be successful, team performance in terms of experience and agile knowledge proves to be successful, customer involvement on daily basis is a key of success, and management involvement as governance and not micromanagement is important too. These five variables found to be a critical success factor for this research project. A positive linear relationship called correlation between the five variables and the success of the project in terms of the project value was found, although the strength and Page 2 of 307 the relationship between the five variables and the project success cannot be predicted statistically. Two pilot projects proved to be successful in achieving the project success value concerning time to market. More analysis areas are outlined; in particular, team communication, customer involvement, the form of contract, and internal company regulation. Whilst the research offers new insights into the form of contract, applying agile methodology on quality assurance, more in-depth research needs to be done to provide more understanding for people and organisational factors, especially in the field of IT telecommunications under both DS and MS departments. Page 3 of 307 Dedication This Dissertation is devoted to the soul of my father, who died on the third of August 2020. He's a coach, a guide, and a constructive spirit. Father, I love you, and I've missed you, but I'm sure I'm going to see you again in different worlds at different times. I would like to thank my mother, who has always pray for me, my lovely wife, Iman, who has offered much support over the last few years, beginning in 2016. Special thanks to the organisation, which gave me much support, and all the information needed to do this job. At last thanks to my Kids, Nour, Yousouf, Abdallah and Yahia. Page 4 of 307 Acknowledgement I would like to thank Dr Hala for her support as she was the first level of support and the mentor for this dissertation idea. Thanks to Dr Leroi, who teaches me the philosophy together with Dr Hala and who has taught me also the qualitative approach. Thanks to Dr Marcella, who added immense value to me at the last step before the research proposal. Thanks to Dr Amin, the one who gives his time and efforts to produce a professional research proposal. Thanks, Dr Luciano for the quantitative approach and SPSS Knowledge. For every piece of work, some soldiers guide the researcher to reach the end, special thanks to Dr Dilshad Sarwar and Professor James O’Kane who supervised me for almost two years until we produce this piece of work. Page 5 of 307 Table of Contents Abstract .............................................................................................................................. 2 Dedication .......................................................................................................................... 4 Acknowledgement ............................................................................................................. 5 Chapter 1: Introduction .................................................................................................. 22 IT Telecommunication Domain .............................................................................................. 24 Digital Services Domain .............................................................................................................................. 25 Managed Services Domain ......................................................................................................................... 25 1.1 Background of the Study .................................................................................................. 25 1.2 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................. 27 1.3 Rationale ............................................................................................................................. 29 1.4 Research Questions .......................................................................................................... 30 1.5 Aim ...................................................................................................................................... 30 1.6 Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 30 1.7 Significant contribution to the thesis/body of knowledge ........................................... 31 1.8 Definition of Terms ............................................................................................................ 31 1.9 Ethical Consideration ........................................................................................................ 32 Chapter 2: Literature Review ......................................................................................... 35 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 35 2.2 Research Keywords .......................................................................................................... 35 2.3 Introduction to the field of Research .............................................................................. 36 Page 6 of 307 2.3.1 Telecommunication ............................................................................................................................ 36 2.3.2 Information Technology Telecommunication Departments ..................................................... 37 2.3.3 Information Technology Telecommunication Projects ............................................................. 38 2.3.4 Information Technology Telecommunication Project Management ...................................... 38 2.3.5 Project Success ................................................................................................................................... 39 2.3.6 Agile Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 40 2.3.7 Agile Methodologies ........................................................................................................................... 42 2.3.7.1 Scrum ....................................................................................................................................... 46 2.3.7.2 Lean Software Development .............................................................................................. 46 2.3.7.3 The Kanban Method .............................................................................................................. 47 2.3.7.4 Extreme Programming ......................................................................................................... 48 2.3.7.5 Crystal ...................................................................................................................................... 49 2.3.7.6 Dynamic Systems Development Method ........................................................................ 50 2.3.7.7 Feature-Driven Development .............................................................................................. 50 2.4 Literature Review Main Themes ................................................................................. 52 2.5 Theme 1: Project Success Factors ............................................................................ 54 2.6 Theme 2: Project Management Methodology and Project Success .....................