Software Development with Scrum: A Bibliometric Analysis and Profile

Introduction of the Scrum approach into software engineering has changed the way software is being developed. The Scrum approach emphasizes the active end-user involvement, embracing of change, and /iterative delivery of products. Our study showed that Scrum has different variants or is used in combination with different methods. Some tools not normally used in the conventional software approaches, like gamification, content analysis and grounded theory are also employed. However, Scrum like other software development approach focuses on improvement of software process, software quality, business value, performance, usability and efficiency and at the same time to reduce cost, risk and uncertainty. Contrary to some conventional approaches it also strives to boost soft factors like agility, trust, motivation, responsibility and transparency. The bibliometric synthetic scoping study revealed seven main research themes concerned with the Scrum research.

💡 Research Summary

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This paper presents a comprehensive bibliometric and thematic analysis of Scrum research published between 2002 and 2019. Using the Scopus database, the authors retrieved 1,279 records with the query “Scrum AND agile AND software” limited to the Computer Science subject area. No restrictions were placed on language, year, or document type, allowing a broad capture of the literature.

The quantitative analysis shows a clear growth trajectory: after a modest incubation period (2002‑2005), the number of publications accelerated from 2006 onward, peaking in 2019 with 162 papers (an average annual increase of 11.1 papers). Conference proceedings dominate the output (≈75 % of the total), indicating that Scrum research is still largely disseminated through fast‑moving venues rather than through established journals. The most prolific conferences include Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing, Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including sub‑series on AI and Bioinformatics), and ACM International Conference Proceedings Series.

Journal articles, while fewer, are concentrated in reputable outlets such as IEEE Software, Information and Software Technology, and the Journal of Systems and Software, all with Scopus JCR scores above 0.2. The most productive countries are the United States (169 papers), Brazil (124), Germany (108), India (76) and Finland (64). Notably, the highest‑producing institutions are European and Brazilian (e.g., Aalto University, SINTEF, Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica), suggesting that U.S. Scrum research is dispersed across many universities while Europe and Brazil have a few strong hubs.

For the thematic mapping, the authors employed VOSviewer’s text‑mining capabilities to construct term‑co‑occurrence and keyword‑co‑occurrence networks. After clustering and manual fusion of overlapping clusters, seven overarching research themes emerged:

1. Improving software processes through education and training – studies focusing on curricula, workshops, and skill development for Scrum adoption.
2. Interacting with users to develop working software – research on stakeholder involvement, user stories, and requirement elicitation.
3. Other software development methods and Scrum – comparative analyses and hybrid approaches that combine Scrum with other agile or traditional methods.
4. Translation of Scrum development approach – investigations on how Scrum concepts are operationalized in real‑world projects.
5. Interactive requirements engineering with user stories – detailed work on the mechanics of user‑story creation, refinement, and backlog management.
6. Managing Scrum teams in global software development – studies addressing distributed teams, cultural challenges, and coordination mechanisms.
7. Scrum activities in everyday work – practical examinations of daily Scrum ceremonies, metrics, and continuous improvement loops.

The theme‑level analysis also revealed the methodological diversity of Scrum research. Scrum is frequently combined with Feature‑Driven Development, Extreme Programming, Crystal Clear, as well as more traditional frameworks such as the Rational Unified Process, Dynamic Systems Development Method, and Lean Development. Moreover, non‑traditional tools—gamification, content analysis, and grounded theory—appear in several studies, highlighting Scrum’s role as a socio‑technical catalyst that extends beyond pure process engineering.

Citation analysis identified that the most referenced works are early‑stage case studies on Scrum education and comparative studies of Scrum versus other agile methods, underscoring the community’s interest in both pedagogical integration and empirical performance evaluation.

In conclusion, the study demonstrates that Scrum research has experienced rapid expansion, yet it remains fragmented across conferences and lacks a core set of dedicated journals. The identified seven themes illustrate the breadth of inquiry—from process improvement and user interaction to global team management and everyday practice. Future research directions suggested include longitudinal assessments of Scrum’s impact on organizational performance, deeper exploration of hybrid method synergies, and rigorous evaluation of emerging tools such as gamification within Scrum contexts.