How Can CoPs in Scaled Agile Settings Look Like? Toward a Taxonomy for CoPs in Large-Scale Agile Software Development

Abstract

Fast-changing business environments and customer needs require organizations to react quickly and adapt to changes. While agile software development methods can support organizations in achieving this goal, applying these methods in a large context, like multi-team projects, entails high complexity. Several scaling agile frameworks recommend Communities of Practice (CoP), groups of people with a shared interest that exchange with each other on a regular basis, to support the application of agile at scale, as they can foster, e.g., inter-team collaboration and alignment. Still, no clear overview of aspects that must be considered when establishing and cultivating CoPs in scaled agile settings exists. Therefore, we propose a taxonomy for CoPs in this context, building on literature and findings of an interview study. The taxonomy can support practitioners and researchers, offering a structured overview of aspects relevant to establishing and cultivating CoPs in large-scale agile settings and future research directions.