International Journal of Agile Systems and Management (10 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Success and Barrier Factors in Agile Transformation  
  by Frederico Batista, Leandro Pereira, Renato Costa 
  Abstract: Agile Methods have become an appealing way of working for organizations focused on improving their performance and matching their customers needs. Agile Methods were originally created to be used by small and independent teams, which leads to complex challenges when implemented in Large-Scale. The purpose of this study is to fill the gap in the scientific literature on Large-Scale Agile Transformations. A feedback from 294 Agile Experts was collected through a survey strategy. Parametric techniques were used to rank and explain the most relevant factors as success and barriers for agile transformations in Large-Scale.
  Keywords: Agile Methods; Agile Transformation; Large-Scale Agile.
  
  
• COVID-19 and its impact on supply chain financing and the role of Islamic Fintech: Evidence from GCC countries  
  by Mustafa Raza Rabbani 
  Abstract: The present study analyses the COVID-19 situation in 5 GCC countries namely, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman and Kuwait and its impact on supply chain financing. All these oil rich countries are already severely affected by this pandemic and have taken several measures to control the spread of the virus from lockdown to social distancing and consequently resulted into the massive disruption in the supply chain financing. The study uses discourse analysis to analyze the COVID-19 situation in these countries and concludes that there is a need to design a long-term strategy with the increased role of financial technology (Fintech) that includes every section of the society in post COVID-19 measures. The study also proposes a sharia compliant Islamic Fintech model for supply chain financing to help in recovery post COVID-19 pandemic.
  Keywords: COVID 19; Islamic Finance; Fintech; economic policy; stimulus package; Supply chain finance; GCC;.
  
  
• Agile Applications of Artificial Intelligence to Apparel Industry  
  by Rui Gonçalves, Renato Lopes Da Costa, Leandro Ferreira Pereira, Álvaro Dias, Rui Vinhas Da Silva, Natália Teixeira 
  Abstract: Artificial intelligence systems are increasing its importance in the field of creating value for companies who seek to gain competitive advantage. This is especially true for the online shopping apparel world, in the case of virtual try-on systems. Following this line of thought the theme consumers acceptance of artificial intelligence virtual try-on systems when shopping online apparel came up as a research problem. In this sense this investigation intendeds to study the acceptance by consumers of the virtual try-on artificial systems when buying apparel online according to specific variables previously defined. To assess this, a quantitative approach was used, based on the structural equations model, the partial least squares technique. This research allowed the creation of a new model based on technology acceptance model by including new variables and revealed that the influence of predictive variables on the dependent variable (ATU) is not the same.
  Keywords: consumer behaviour; artificial intelligence; agile applications; virtual try-on; VTO; technology acceptance model; TAM.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2021.10043550
   
  
• Research Agenda for Supply Chain Management 4.0  
  by Ferry Jie, Susan Standing, Naeem Janjua, Ahmed Ibrahim, Craig Standing 
  Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to conduct a systematic review of the supply chain management 4.0 literature in the principal logistics and supply chain management journals, across a five - year time frame. rnThe selected journal articles are categorised on the basis of an analytical framework that contains keywords related to supply chain management and Industry 4.0.rnThe systematic literature review indicates that supply chain issues from an industry 4.0 perspective are under-researched. Many technical issues are unexplained, and broader methodological factors as well as how the process can be managed in organisations are major gaps in the literature.rnBased on the literature review we argue that supply chain researchers need to understand the major developments taking place linked to Industry 4.0 and engage in research that fills the gaps. rn
  Keywords: Industry 4.0; supply chain: innovation; cybersecurity.
  
  
• The Adaptability of Tourism and Hospitality Supply Chain Management to Manage Covid 19 Crisis: Bangladesh Perspective  
  by Santus Kumar Deb, Bapon Chandra Kuri, Hiran Roy, Biplab Roy, Shohel Md. Nafi 
  Abstract: The study aims to scrutinise the impact of COVID-19 crisis on supply chain of tourism and hospitality sector and provide guidelines to cope with similar types of crisis in future. To fulfil the aim, a qualitative research approach has been adapted where date was derived through focus group discussion which consisted of the academic expertise, and industry specialists who have the raw knowledge regarding the facts of COVID-19 that have influence on Tourism and Hospitality Supply chain. The results suggest that current situation is very vulnerable for tourism and hospitality industry and some of the major impacts are skilled staffs of the industry are changing their job and shifting to other industries, stakeholders are losing their revenues, price of the raw materials of food and beverage industry is increasing, airlines are losing their passengers and stopping their flights and tour operators and travel agencies fall short in selling their tour packages.
  Keywords: bio-bubble; COVID-19; incentives; tourism supply chain; and vaccination.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2023.10049420
   
  
• The impact of top management commitment on green manufacturing, supplier integration, and customer integration in improving operational performance  
  by Hotlan Siagian, Zeplin Jiwa Husada Tarigan, Sautma Roni Basana, Ferry Jie 
  Abstract: This study investigates the impact of top management commitment on operational performance through green manufacturing, supplier integration, and customer integration. The study has surveyed 120 medium and large manufacturing companies domiciled in east Java, Indonesia. Data collection used a questionnaire designed with a five-point Likert scale. Data analysis used the partial least square (PLS) using smartPLS software. The results support 13 of 14 hypotheses developed. Top management commitment directly affects green manufacturing, supplier integration, and customer integration. However, top management commitment did not directly affect operational performance. Green manufacturing, supplier integration, and customer integration directly affect operational performance. Furthermore, top management commitment indirectly affects operational performance through green manufacturing, supplier integration, and customer integration. This research provides an insight on how to improve operational performance by improving top management commitment, adopting green manufacturing, and establishing supplier and customer integration. This study could contribute to the current supply chain management theory.
  Keywords: top management commitment; green manufacturing; supplier integration; customer integration; operational performance.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2023.10053435
   
  
• The Impact of Agile Coordination Practices on Conditions for Successful Coordination  
  by Tomas Gustavsson 
  Abstract: Large-scale agile frameworks suggest several practices for coordination between teams in software development projects. These prescribed coordination practices are often described as how to be performed in detail but without explaining the intended impacts. At the same time, agile values emphasise the need for tailoring practices that are not helpful. This study examines how three agile coordination practices influence accountability, predictability, and common understanding, which are important conditions for coordination. A qualitative research strategy was used to investigate three case organisations that implemented the scaled agile framework (SAFe): one bank, one government agency, and one department within the automotive industry. The empirical data consists of 28 semi-structured interviews and observations. The findings show the differing impacts of three investigated agile coordination practices and how the tailoring of practices affects coordination.
  Keywords: agile software development; agile practices; agile systems; coordination practices; inter-team coordination; project management.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2023.10053577
   
  
• Towards a Transdisciplinary Framework for Systemic Risk Detection  
  by Mark Wever, Niall O'Leary, Munir Shah, Nel Wognum, George Onofrei 
  Abstract: Detecting and managing systemic risk is a major growing challenge for the 21st century. Due to the increasing complexity and interconnectedness of social-technological-biophysical systems, stakeholders will fail to promptly identify key early warning signals of systemic risk if relying on individual disciplines, or a combination of disciplines that are not well coordinated. Our paper argues that transdisciplinary approaches are required to make comprehensive and integrative assessments of complex systems. To support stakeholders in undertaking such assessments, we propose a framework that will assist them in: 1) better understanding their system and the risks to which it is exposed; 2) selecting complementary disciplines, theories and methods that are relevant to the system in question; and 3) integrating knowledge from these different disciplines to detect a wide range of early warning signals of risk. The framework can be used as a foundation to build transdisciplinary approaches to systemic risk detection.
  Keywords: transdisciplinary design; systemic risk; risk detection; early warning systems; complex systems.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2023.10055006
   
  
• Organisational agility as competitive advantage: a systematic literature review  
  by Maria Franco, Leandro Pereira, Ana Simoes, Álvaro Dias, Rui Vinhas Da Silva 
  Abstract: Agility is the ability of an organisation to respond dynamically to changes in market demand, to a business climate characterised by a high degree of uncertainty, and to global scenarios that are constantly being updated. The organisation must adopt agile practices as a core value to respond to changing needs of customers, the environment, and stakeholders, to maintain a better market position against competitors (Butt et al., 2021). Although there are many studies on the definition of agility and how it can benefit organisations through competitive advantage, in the recurrent literature there are still some gaps regarding its conceptualisation, and a lack of commitment of systematic reviews to better understand the "state of the art" of the subject. The objective of this study is to address this gap, study the evolution of investigations on agility as a competitive advantage of organisations, and carry out a systematic review of the literature.
  Keywords: agile; agility; organisational agility; competitive advantage; VUCA; volatility; uncertainty; complexity and ambiguity.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2023.10056570
   
  
• Scrum methodology adaptation in the non-software industry: agile management of a research initiative  
  by Carolina Piedrahita, Guillermo Arturo Alzate-Espinosa, María Camila Herrera-Schlesinger, Abel Naranjo-Agudelo, Edson Felipe Araujo-Guerrero, Carlos Andres Torres-Hernandez, Camilo Andrés Benítez-Peláez 
  Abstract: The application of agile techniques is critical to achieve success in the resolution of unique problems in collaborative projects. This article explores the adoption of a project management approach adapted from the Scrum agile method in collaborative research initiatives framed within the Oil & Gas industry. The Scrum features integrated are assessed in six phases to identify how agile principles contribute to the efficiency in research processes related to modelling and understanding geomechanical phenomena in heavy oil reservoirs. Aiming to gather information, the study performs interviews, surveys and the analysis of official documents. Results suggest to foster certain "apprenticeship of observation" from more experienced researchers, a high degree of openness during the adoption of the Scrum framework to develop a collective understanding of novel Scrum practices, exploit improvement opportunities and incorporate agile roles in a flexible manner to strengthen team trust, constructive criticism, efficiency and communication.
  Keywords: Scrum framework; agile methods; collaborative research initiatives; agile project management; feasibility assessment; success factors.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2023.10056694