Challenges of incorporating Generative AI tools in the Agile Software Development Lifecycle

Sammanfattning

Organizations are increasingly incorporating Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools into Agile software development, aiming to improve productivity and accelerate development cycles. However, without practitionercentered understanding of how these barriers manifest in Agile projects, organizations lack insight into how GenAI adoption may influence Agile outcomes. In this thesis, we aim to address the insufficient empirical understanding of the barriers practitioners experience when incorporating GenAI tools into design-, implementation-, and testing-related Agile activities. The study is guided by the following research questions: • Which barriers, challenges, and limitations do Agile practitioners experience when incorporating GenAI tools into Agile software design, implementation, and testing activities? • How do Agile practitioners perceive the implications of the barriers, challenges, and limitations identified from answering the first research question on Agile coordination, decision-making, accountability, cycle time, responsibility, and software quality? A qualitative research approach was used. Interviews were conducted with ten Agile practitioners working in Sweden and Greece. The collected data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s six-step process. The findings reveal GenAI-adoption barriers, such as unreliable output quality, gaps in governance frameworks, accountability, security, and data compliance risks. While practitioners perceived the use of such tools as useful, they also reported increased review and verification effort and reduced peer relations. Overall, the findings suggest that GenAI adoption in Agile environments is an evolving process that requires strong human oversight, governance practices, and mechanisms that preserve collaboration. Future research could expand the sample to include a larger number of professionals and include other Agile activities, such as Planning and Requirements Analysis.