Prototypical Leadership in Agile Software Development

TL;DR

This paper investigates prototypical leadership in agile software teams, finding that leaders perceived as more representative and aligned with team values are seen as more effective, enhancing team success.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of prototypical leadership in agile teams and explores how perceived representativeness influences leadership effectiveness.

Findings

Perceived prototypical leaders are more effective.

Alignment with team values enhances leadership success.

Shared traits contribute to overall team performance.

Abstract

Leadership in agile teams is a collective responsibility where team members share leadership work based on expertise and skills. However, the understanding of leadership in this context is limited. This study explores the under-researched area of prototypical leadership, aiming to understand if and how leaders who are perceived as more representative of the team are more effective leaders. Qualitative interviews were conducted with eleven members of six agile software teams in five Swedish companies from various industries and sizes. In this study, the effectiveness of leadership was perceived as higher when it emerged from within the team or when leaders aligned with the group. In addition, leaders in managerial roles that align with the team's shared values and traits were perceived as more effective, contributing to overall team success.