This document discusses distributed software development (DSD) and how to combine it with agile methods. DSD involves developing software across multiple sites and cultures globally. It is used to lower costs, access skilled resources, and allow round-the-clock development. However, DSD faces challenges like communication and cultural issues. The document then explains how agile principles and practices like short iterations and frequent integration can help overcome some DSD challenges. While agile assumes colocated teams, tools like video conferencing and instant messaging can support communication in distributed agile teams. Benefits include increased visibility and trust between teams in different locations.

1. Esin Karaman
SWE586
Boğaziçi University
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2. Agenda
 What is Distributed Software Development (DSD)?
 Why DSD?
 Problems with DSD
 Agile Practices
 Combining DSD with agile methods
 Benefits
 Challenges
 Tools and techniques
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3. What is Distributed Software
Development (DSD)?
Software is developed in a multi-site, multicultural,
globally distributed environment.
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4. Why DSD?
 Lower cost
 Access to skilled resources
 Having round-the clock development
 Minimize risk in case of natural catastrophes
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5. Problems with DSD
 Strategic issues
 Cultural issues
 Inadequate communication
 Knowledge management
 Project and process management issues
 Technical issues
 Risk management
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6. Agile Practices
Agile manifesto contains twelve principals and four core
values are
 Individuals and interactions OVER processes and tools
 Working software OVER comprehensive
documentation
 Customer collaboration OVER contract negotiation
 Responding to change OVER following a plan
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7. Combining DSD with Agile Methods
 Most of the agile methodologies (e.g. scrum) assume
that the team is located in a single room
 In the 2008 State of Agile Development survey,
conducted by VersionOne, 57% of respondents stated
that their teams were distributed. Further 41% of
respondents state that they were currently using or
plan to combine agile with outsourced development.
 There are studies which show that agile principles help
in overcoming some challenges faced by distributed
development.
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8. Globally distributed agile teams
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9. Benefits
 Increased visibility of project status via short
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continuous iterations
Continuous integration of software code also helps to
reduce configuration management issues.
Development in cycles makes it easier for participants
to see the short term goals and have a positive effect on
communication between teams
Sprint reviews can be an effective way to improve
external communication
Create trust between different cultures involved in the
process by constant communication and delivery of
software
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10. Benefits(2)
 According to a study made by Passivara,
Durasiewicz and Lassenius quality of software and
communication are improved and communication and
collaboration is more frequent than before because of
the Scrum methodology used in the project. Also the
motivation of team members was reported to have
increased.
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11. Challenges
 Agile teams rely on intense person to person
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communication
Documentation
Pair programming
Different working hours
Training 0n agile practices
Distribution of work
Unavailability of Customer or Customer Proxy
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12. Tools and techniques for agile distributed
development
 Improve communication
 Minimize the overhead of setting up a meeting
(conference phone, projector, video conferencing)
 Web cams and application sharing software
 Instant messenger for synchronous communication
 E-mail for asynchronous communication
 User contact visits
 Bring the whole team together sometimes
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13. Tools and techniques for agile distributed
development (2)
 Team distribution
 Use team representatives for large time zone interval
 Scrum of scrums
 Distribution of work regardless of location
 Maintain valuable documentation
 Provide user stories with use case diagrams
 Various tools like issue tracker (e.g. Jira) PM tools (e.g.
Scrum works)
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14. Tools and techniques for agile distributed
development (3)
 Focus on team coaching
 Use of tools
 Social networking tools
 Communication tools: e-mails, instant messengers
 Configuration menagement tools
 Bug and issue tracker databases
 Knowledge centers
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15. Conclusion
With distributed agile development it is possible to
 tap into new global markets
 make best use of globally talent
 potentially reduce costs
with support of mentioned tools and techniques.
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16. References
 S.V.Shrivastava, H.Date, "Distributed Agile Software
Development: A Review", JOURNAL OF COMPUTER
SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1, MAY
2010
 K.Sureshchandra, J.Shrinivasavadhani, "Adopting Agile in
Distributed Development”, IEEE International Conference
on Global Software Engineering , p.217-221, 2008.
 A.M.Elhassan Hamid, "Upgrading Distributed Agile
Development", INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
COMPUTING, ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC
ENGINEERING (ICCEEE), 2013
 M.Kajko-Mattsson, G.Azizyan, M.K.Magarian, "Classes of
Distributed Agile Development Problems", 2010 Agile
Conference
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17. Thank you
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