Transfer and Scale-Up of Agile Frameworks into Education: A Review and Retrospective of OKR and SCRUM

Volume 9, Issue 1, February 2024     |     PP. 20-37      |     PDF (192 K)    |     Pub. Date: July 26, 2024
DOI: 10.54647/education880534    29 Downloads     3615 Views  

Author(s)

Benjamin Zierock, SRH University Heidelberg, Ludwig-Guttmann-Straße 6, 69123 Heidelberg, Germany
Matthias Blatz, Heidelberg iT Corporation (USA), 80 Pine Street, Floor 24, New York, NY 10005 USA
Sieer Angar, Socratyes GmbH, Waldhofer Str. 102, 69123 Heidelberg, Germany

Abstract
Agile frameworks such as Objectives and Key Results (OKR) and SCRUM, originally developed for the software industry, are increasingly being considered for application in educational settings. This paper reviews the transfer and scale-up of these agile methodologies into education, aiming to analyze their effectiveness, benefits, and challenges. Through a systematic review of existing literature and detailed analysis of case studies, the study finds that agile frameworks can enhance collaboration, project management, and student outcomes.
However, challenges such as resistance to change, scalability, and training requirements are significant barriers. The findings suggest that while agile methodologies hold promise for transforming educational practices, careful consideration and tailored implementation strategies are crucial.
This study provides recommendations for educators and policymakers, and identifies areas for future research to further explore the long-term impacts of agile frameworks in education. The analysis builds upon foundational concepts from "A Scrum Book: The Spirit of the Game" by Jeff Sutherland and James O. Coplien (2019) and " Measure What Matters
OKRs: The Simple Idea that Drives 10x Growth" by John Doerr (2018).

Keywords
Agile Frameworks , OKR, SCRUM, Transfer, Review, Retrospective

Cite this paper
Benjamin Zierock, Matthias Blatz, Sieer Angar, Transfer and Scale-Up of Agile Frameworks into Education: A Review and Retrospective of OKR and SCRUM , SCIREA Journal of Education. Volume 9, Issue 1, February 2024 | PP. 20-37. 10.54647/education880534

References

[ 1 ] Doerr, J. (2018). Measure What Matters: OKRs: The Simple Idea that Drives 10x Growth. Vereinigtes Königreich: Penguin Books Limited.
[ 2 ] Sutherland, J., & Coplien, J. O. (2019). A Scrum Book: The Spirit of the Game.
[ 3 ] Blomstrom, D. (2023). Tech-Led Culture: Unlock the Full Potential of Your Business and People. Vereinigtes Königreich: Kogan Page.
[ 4 ] Mezick, D., Pfeffer, J., Pontes, D., Sasse, M., Sheffield, M., Shinsato, H., Kold-Taylor, L. (2019). Das OpenSpace Agility Handbuch: Organisationen erfolgreich transformieren: gemeinsam, freiwillig, transparent. Deutschland: peppair.
[ 5 ] Future Skills: 30 Zukunftsentscheidende Kompetenzen und wie wir sie lernen können. (2021). Deutschland: Vahlen.
[ 6 ] Rush, D. E., & Connolly, A. J. (2020). An agile framework for teaching with Scrum in the IT project management classroom. Journal of Information Systems Education, 31(3), 188-201.
[ 7 ] Salza, P., Musmarra, P., & Ferrucci, F. (2019). Agile methodologies in education: A review: Bringing methodologies from industry to the classroom. In Agile and Lean Concepts for Teaching and Learning (pp. 25-40). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2751-3_2
[ 8 ] Sharp, J. H., & Lang, G. (2018). Agile in teaching and learning: Conceptual framework and research agenda. Journal of Information Systems Education, 29(2), 45-52.