Working Experiences in Agile Software Development:
The Case of the Business Processes Outsourcing Industry in Poland
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Submission date: 2023-06-18
Acceptance date: 2024-01-04
Publication date: 2024-03-12
Polish Sociological Review 2024;225(1):3-30
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Lean production is becoming popular in IT-related industries, including the business processes
outsourcing (BPO) industry. Managers of companies try to implement lean principles in software development
projects and, as a result, Agile Software Development (ASD) is becoming more common in practice. According
to ASD authors, this approach aims to increase employee productivity and provide better working conditions.
However, little is known about the experience of working in such conditions. This article aims to analyze
the experience of working under ASD conditions in the BPO industry in Poland. Based on interviews with
employees and trade unionists in the BPO industry and using Grounded Theory Methodology procedures during
the data analysis, three categories of work experiences in the BPO industry were reconstructed. The reconstructed
categories are: “enthusiasm,” “instrumentalism,” and “disenchantment.” Modes of experience were determined
by biographical work experiences, individual resources, and objective context.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author would like to thank two anonymous reviewers, as well as Professor Adam Mrozowicki and Dr. Mateusz Karolak, whose comments significantly enriched the text. The author would also like to thank the interviewees, who took the time to participate in the research and share their stories.
FUNDING
National Science Centre, Poland (UMO-2021/41/N/HS6/00557)