Enhancing Extreme Programming (XP) Adoption through SAMAM: A Scalable Agile Maturity Assessment Model Based on Industry Best Practices

The adoption of Extreme Programming (XP), a widely recognized Agile methodology, faces numerous barriers that hinder its successful implementation in software development organizations. This research aims to develop a novel Scalable Agile Maturity Assessment Model (SAMAM) to address these barriers and facilitate the effective adoption of XP. The model is designed by leveraging established frameworks, including the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), Software Outsourcing Vendor Readiness Model (SOVRM), and Software Process Improvement Implementation Management Model (SPIIMM). Unlike traditional models that rely on predefined Key Process Areas (KPAs), SAMAM adopts 14 critical barriers (CBs) identified through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and corresponding practices as the foundation for its maturity levels. The study was conducted in four phases. First, an SLR was performed to identify 14 critical barriers to XP adoption and their respective mitigation practices. In the second phase, a survey questionnaire was administered within the software industry to validate the SLR findings and extract additional industry-relevant practices. The third phase involved the development of SAMAM, structured into five maturity levels using the identified barriers and practices instead of traditional KPAs. In the final phase, industrial case studies were conducted to evaluate the model’s effectiveness in real-world settings using the Motorola Assessment Tool. The findings demonstrate that SAMAM provides a comprehensive and scalable approach to assess and improve XP adoption maturity by systematically addressing critical adoption barriers. The model supports organizations in overcoming XP adoption challenges and achieving higher process maturity. The evaluation through case studies confirmed the practical applicability and effectiveness of the proposed model, contributing to the body of knowledge on agile methodologies and advancing XP adoption in the software development industry.