Explaining How Agile Software Development Practices Moderate the Negative Effects of Faultlines in Teams

Abstract

By viewing organisational usage of enterprise social software (ESS) as one of appropriation, this research-in-progress paper explores the juxtaposed relationship between two practices, that of client and consultant, as they work together to co-design a joint ESS solution for the client’s workplace. Such observations have been made through the lead researcher’s embedded relationship in a case organisation who specialise in ESS. We theorize that through a design and practice-based perspective, the taken-for-granted assumptions of both practices are revealed by practice breakdowns and are subsequently then animated through a type of useful tension as design-based activities unfold. In this regard, a double hermeneutic process is revealed in which the two practices try and understand each other’s understanding of the same project. This is in addition to their own practice’s understanding for how their role contributes to the ESS project