Onboarding: How Newcomers Integrate into an Agile Project Team

Gregory, P. , Strode, D. E., AlQaisi, R., Sharp, H. and Barroca, L. (2020) Onboarding: How Newcomers Integrate into an Agile Project Team. In: 21st International Conference on Agile Software Development (XP 2020), Copenhagen, Denmark, 8–12 June 2020, pp. 20-36. ISBN 978-3-030-49391-2 (doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-49392-9_2)

Abstract

Although a stable team is deemed optimal for agile project success, new team members need to join ongoing agile projects. Newcomers must rapidly assimilate into the organisational and project environment while learning how to contribute effectively to the project and integrate into the team without seriously interrupting project progress. This paper addresses how newcomers integrate into an established agile project team and the challenges newcomers and the team face during this process. This paper is a single case study of a co-located agile project team in a large IT department who regularly onboard inexperienced newcomers. We found a mixture of traditional onboarding practices and specific agile practices contribute to the onboarding process. Onboarding challenges include empowerment and mindset change, accommodating part-timers, conveying agile principles, and adjusting to changes in team composition.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Additional Information: We acknowledge the contributions of the research participants, and the co-funding provided by the Agile Business Consortium (ABC Ltd.) for the Agile Research Network.
• Keywords: Agile team onboarding, onboarding, newcomers, scrum, self-organizing team onboarding.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gregory, Dr Peggy
• Authors: Gregory, P., Strode, D. E., AlQaisi, R., Sharp, H., and Barroca, L.
• Subjects: T Technology > T Technology (General)
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Computing Science
• ISBN: 978-3-030-49391-2
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 The Authors
• First Published: First published in 21st International Conference on Agile Software Development, XP 2020, Copenhagen, Denmark, June 8–12, 2020, LNBIP 383:20-36
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License