The role of knowledge creation in adopting extreme programming model: an empirical study

Throughout the last three decades many processes, tools, and methods have been used to structure and bring some order into software development processes. One of the most widely understood traditional methods is the waterfall life cycle model. Recently, agile development methods have emerged to overcome some of the process and product-related problems associated with traditional models. They are believed to be lightweight, people focused, adaptive and allow knowledge transfer. Researchers in the area of knowledge management claimed that the knowledge creation process software developers build towards a specific mode would lead to its adoption. This paper attempts to integrate knowledge creation as a condition of adoption. This paper reports on how a Canadian organization shifts its development method from the waterfall process to extreme programming model. The findings show that the differences outweigh the similarities and caution needs to be exercised in adopting either one of two models. Knowledge creation, indeed, plays an important role in adopting extreme programming model. The implications of these findings for both researchers and practitioners are discussed