Applying Agent-Based Simulation to the Improvement of Agile Software Management

Among agile methodologies, eXtreme Programming (XP) is one of the best known and better defined. However, one factor that hinders its application is the lack of native XP support for project management. One of the techniques that could help in the improvement of XP projects management is the simulation modeling. In this paper, we examine, through a literature review, the evidences of the application of modeling and simulation techniques to support the management in XP projects. From this review we conclude that there is still work to be done in this area, and more specifically in the teamwork management, having in mind that agile team management is the most influential factor in achieving agile team productivity. As a proof of concept, we present Sim-Xperience: a simulation model to assist the XP team in the management of their projects; this model, unlike those found in the literature, has been developed following the agent-based paradigm, especially suited to simulate social behaviors. Through the model input parameters you can configure the specific features of the project you want to simulate and of the development team. Thus, the model allows you to analyze the effect of different decisions on team management process, observing the evolution of the project development as well as the deviations in comparison with initial estimations. To illustrate the model simulation we have conducted a case study, where we have seen the results of the simulation model under two different allocation tasks strategies, concluding that using a strategy where the team member experience is not the priority criterion is better for the increase of team experience in the long term.