Software Development with Scrum: A Bibliometric Analysis and Profile

TL;DR

This paper provides a bibliometric analysis of Scrum in software engineering, highlighting its variants, tools, research themes, and its focus on process improvement, quality, and soft factors.

Contribution

It offers a comprehensive bibliometric profile of Scrum research, identifying main themes, tools used, and the approach's emphasis on both technical and soft factors.

Findings

Scrum has multiple variants and is combined with various methods.

Tools like gamification and content analysis are used in Scrum research.

Seven main research themes in Scrum studies were identified.

Abstract

Introduction of the Scrum approach into software engineering has changed the way software is being developed. The Scrum approach emphasizes the active end-user involvement, embracing of change, and /iterative delivery of products. Our study showed that Scrum has different variants or is used in combination with different methods. Some tools not normally used in the conventional software approaches, like gamification, content analysis and grounded theory are also employed. However, Scrum like other software development approach focuses on improvement of software process, software quality, business value, performance, usability and efficiency and at the same time to reduce cost, risk and uncertainty. Contrary to some conventional approaches it also strives to boost soft factors like agility, trust, motivation, responsibility and transparency. The bibliometric synthetic scoping study revealed seven main research themes concerned with the Scrum research.