Work Team Cohesion Effects on Agile Scrum Team Performance: A Predictive Study

Abstract

This nonexperimental survey based quantitative predictive study examined whether work cohesion can predict agile scrum team performance. This study applied the cohesion theory as a multidimensional construct to examine the role of cohesion in the success of agile scrum team performance. Recent agile performance research presented complex and challenging approaches for researchers to investigate and study. Agile scrum team performance researchers must deal with complexities caused by various methodologies and methods used by organizations using agile scrum. A review of peer reviewed research literature discovered a gap existed about what we do not know about cohesion as a multiconstruct framework, being able to predict or explain team performance independent of the agile methods used. This nonexperimental, survey based online quantitative study applied a work team cohesion survey to measure the influence of agile scrum team performance. The sample frame comprised of professionals working as a part of an agile scrum team who were either software developers, testers, requirements system engineers, quality control, scrum masters, or product owners in North America. Multiple regression analysis was used to predict the continuous team performance dependent variable based on the independent variables of task cohesion, social cohesion, and individual attraction to the group. Results from the regression presented that 23% of the variance in team performance was predicted by task cohesion, social cohesion, and individual attraction to the group. The regression model was statistically significant, F(3,115) = 13.011, p = <.001, R² = .23. Work team cohesion, as a multidimensional construct, was found to predict team performance in agile scrum teams in North America. The study inferred that cohesion could be measured multidimensionally, and the specific factor of social cohesion was identified as having a negative correlation with team performance.