Multicultural Understanding: Leveraging the Advantages of Diversity in Scrum Adoption

Abstract

This paper introduces a positive view of multicultural differences in a U.S. IT software development team with a discussion around the intersection of Scrum values with the cross-cultural dimensions of power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and individualism/collectivism. The comparative analysis between cultural dimensions, Scrum values, and their relation to group development theory uncovered key advantages of cultural diversity; group effectiveness and performance, and creativity and innovation. These advantages present opportunities to enhance the forming and functioning phases of group development as teams adopt Scrum values.