Collaborative Information Behavior of Agile Teams during New Product Development

This study used a comprehensive scoping review of collaborative information behavior (CIB) literature and a mixed methods approach to: (1) understand the CIB of agile teams during new product development (NPD), (2) identify collaboration tools used by agile teams, and (3) determine how CIB and agile practices support NPD success. The study shows that NPD tasks lead to collaborative efforts where Shah’s C5 elements of collaboration – communication, contribution, coordination, cooperation, and collaboration – are manifested. Shared goals/dependencies, work complexity, inadequate information, and core agile events trigger CIB during NPD. Agile teams rely on various information sources, including people, technologies, databases, documents, and exploratory activities. The study reveals the collaborative tools supporting CIB and NPD, as well as the information artifacts produced by agile teams during NPD. The research also reveals that combining CIB and agile practices could improve NPD success and highlights how well-nurtured CIB and agile practices could further enhance NPD success through a recommended collaborative information practices framework. The insights obtained in this study contribute to understanding collaborative tasks and activities that could help gather requirements to design effective collaborative tools to support collaboration in agile teams for improved efficiency and productivity in NPD endeavors. Embracing effective collaborative information practices could help agile teams seek objective information that provides clearer product requirements and specifications, minimizes delay, and enhances product quality.