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What is Agile Project Management? Developing a new definition following a systematic literature review

What is Agile Project Management? Developing a new definition following a systematic literature review
What is Agile Project Management? Developing a new definition following a systematic literature review

The concept of “Agile Project Management” has gained significant traction in various sectors, beyond its origins in software development. However, a coherent, universally accepted definition remains elusive, prompting this study to embark on a systematic exploration of agile practices and their implications in broader contexts. Employing a systematic literature review across three major academic databases on business and management studies in the past two decades, this research scrutinizes a final selection of 80 high-quality academic papers. The principal contribution of our research is the articulation of a nuanced definition of Agile Project Management, which demarcates it from traditional project management frameworks and those agile practices specific to software development. This study not only sheds light on the prevailing ambiguities in the understanding of Agile Project Management but also sets the stage for future research into the emerging organizational dynamics engendered by the adoption of agile practices.

Agile Project Management, agile methodologies, future research, systematic literature review, agile practices
8756-9728
Dong, Hao
73a03c20-d661-446a-b45e-d2cf9e556998
Dacre, Nicholas
90ea8d3e-d0b1-4a5a-bead-f95ab32afbd1
Baxter, David
a7d6ba3f-370f-493d-9202-218d5e6dfc54
Ceylan, Serkan
10f75de1-16da-4458-8ee1-8abe0a1e90ac
Dong, Hao
73a03c20-d661-446a-b45e-d2cf9e556998
Dacre, Nicholas
90ea8d3e-d0b1-4a5a-bead-f95ab32afbd1
Baxter, David
a7d6ba3f-370f-493d-9202-218d5e6dfc54
Ceylan, Serkan
10f75de1-16da-4458-8ee1-8abe0a1e90ac

Dong, Hao, Dacre, Nicholas, Baxter, David and Ceylan, Serkan (2024) What is Agile Project Management? Developing a new definition following a systematic literature review. Project Management Journal. (doi:10.1177/87569728241254095).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The concept of “Agile Project Management” has gained significant traction in various sectors, beyond its origins in software development. However, a coherent, universally accepted definition remains elusive, prompting this study to embark on a systematic exploration of agile practices and their implications in broader contexts. Employing a systematic literature review across three major academic databases on business and management studies in the past two decades, this research scrutinizes a final selection of 80 high-quality academic papers. The principal contribution of our research is the articulation of a nuanced definition of Agile Project Management, which demarcates it from traditional project management frameworks and those agile practices specific to software development. This study not only sheds light on the prevailing ambiguities in the understanding of Agile Project Management but also sets the stage for future research into the emerging organizational dynamics engendered by the adoption of agile practices.

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Submitted date: 15 February 2023
Accepted/In Press date: 2 April 2024
Published date: 2 April 2024
Additional Information: This research is particularly relevant to project researchers and practitioners as it explores "Agile Project Management" and extends its application beyond traditional software development sectors. Through a systematic literature review of the past two decades, we identify and articulate a refined definition of Agile Project Management, distinguishing it from conventional project management practices. This distinction is crucial for professionals seeking to apply agile methodologies effectively across diverse industries such as construction, finance, and education. The study highlights the benefits of agile approaches, including improved teamwork, enhanced efficiency, and increased stakeholder satisfaction, which are critical for successful project outcomes. Moreover, it offers a theoretical framework that aids professionals in understanding and implementing Agile Project Management in various organisational settings, supporting the broader adoption and adaptation of agile principles in project management.
Keywords: Agile Project Management, agile methodologies, future research, systematic literature review, agile practices

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 489075
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/489075
ISSN: 8756-9728
PURE UUID: a404eab1-ee5d-401e-aad9-d5b9353fc416
ORCID for Hao Dong: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3458-4986
ORCID for David Baxter: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1983-7786

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 12 Apr 2024 16:34
Last modified: 30 Jul 2024 01:59

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Contributors

Author: Hao Dong ORCID iD
Author: Nicholas Dacre
Author: David Baxter ORCID iD
Author: Serkan Ceylan

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