Do scaling agile frameworks address global software development risks? An empirical study

Driven by the need to coordinate activities of multiple agile development teams cooperating produce a large software product, software-intensive organizations are turning scaling frameworks. Despite growing adoption various frameworks, there is little empirical evidence how effective their practices in mitigating risk, especially global (GSD), where project failure known problem. In this study, we develop GSD Risk Catalog 63 risks assess degree which two frameworks–Disciplined Agile Delivery (DAD) and Scaled Framework (SAFe)–address GSD. We examined data from longitudinal case studies implementing each framework identify extent address risks. Scaling frameworks appear help companies eliminate or mitigate many traditional GSD, relating users customers. However, several important were not eliminated mitigated. These persistent main belonged Environment quadrant highlighting inherent risk developing across geographic boundaries. Perhaps these (and arguably any framework), would have difficulty alleviating, issues that be outside immediate control organization.