Paper Type
ERF
Abstract
Agile and DevOps meetings are designed to promote transparency and continuous improvement. Yet when enacted within hierarchical relationships, these recurring, public interactions may unintentionally incentivize impression-sensitive reporting. This study introduces social desirability bias creep (SDB Creep), defined as the progressive escalation of socially desirable disclosure across iterative agile meetings. Drawing on impression management theory, we propose that authority asymmetry and evaluative intensity activate strategic self-presentation behaviors that gradually distort coordination signals and planning accuracy. Using a qualitative, multi-case design based on interviews and observational records of standups, refinement sessions, and retrospectives, the study develops a grounded process model explaining how reporting bias becomes normalized over time. By conceptualizing social desirability bias as an embedded organizational dynamic rather than a survey artifact, this research advances understanding of communication in agile environments.
Paper Number
1747
Recommended Citation
Igah, Roseline C. and Baham, Corey, "Social Desirability Bias Creep: The Cost of Impression Management in Agile Meetings" (2026). AMCIS 2026 Proceedings. 5.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2026/sig_itpm/sig_itpm/5
Social Desirability Bias Creep: The Cost of Impression Management in Agile Meetings
Agile and DevOps meetings are designed to promote transparency and continuous improvement. Yet when enacted within hierarchical relationships, these recurring, public interactions may unintentionally incentivize impression-sensitive reporting. This study introduces social desirability bias creep (SDB Creep), defined as the progressive escalation of socially desirable disclosure across iterative agile meetings. Drawing on impression management theory, we propose that authority asymmetry and evaluative intensity activate strategic self-presentation behaviors that gradually distort coordination signals and planning accuracy. Using a qualitative, multi-case design based on interviews and observational records of standups, refinement sessions, and retrospectives, the study develops a grounded process model explaining how reporting bias becomes normalized over time. By conceptualizing social desirability bias as an embedded organizational dynamic rather than a survey artifact, this research advances understanding of communication in agile environments.
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