Paper Number
ECIS2026-1460
Paper Type
CRP
Abstract
Scaled agile frameworks (e.g., SAFe) are adopted, yet transformation outcomes remain inconsistent. Persistent misalignments between individual dispositions, role expectations, and organizational structures constrain agility. Existing agile maturity and assessment models are largely prognostic, defining ideal agile states rather than diagnosing current conditions. This study introduces a diagnostic perspective through the Organizational Fit Instrument (OFI), developed via Design Science Research. The OFI integrates psychological, structural, and developmental dimensions – personality traits, psychological needs, psychological safety, role clarity, and developmental maturity – to assess alignment between individuals, roles, and the organization. Applied in a large-scale SAFe transformation (n = 92), the OFI revealed three recurring misalignment patterns: a need-structure gap (bounded autonomy), a vertical safety-structure gap (team vs. higher-level safety), and a development-structure gap (readiness vs. structural accommodation). The findings advance agile assessment research by shifting from maturity evaluation to human-centered organizational diagnostics, enabling interventions that enhance alignment and learning in scaled agile transformations.
Recommended Citation
Leikert-Boehm, Ninja; Matter, Philipp; and Kurz, Katja, "Beyond Maturity: Diagnosing Organizational Fit In Scaled Agile Transformation" (2026). ECIS 2026 Proceedings. 1.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2026/isd_pm/isd_pm/1
Beyond Maturity: Diagnosing Organizational Fit In Scaled Agile Transformation
Scaled agile frameworks (e.g., SAFe) are adopted, yet transformation outcomes remain inconsistent. Persistent misalignments between individual dispositions, role expectations, and organizational structures constrain agility. Existing agile maturity and assessment models are largely prognostic, defining ideal agile states rather than diagnosing current conditions. This study introduces a diagnostic perspective through the Organizational Fit Instrument (OFI), developed via Design Science Research. The OFI integrates psychological, structural, and developmental dimensions – personality traits, psychological needs, psychological safety, role clarity, and developmental maturity – to assess alignment between individuals, roles, and the organization. Applied in a large-scale SAFe transformation (n = 92), the OFI revealed three recurring misalignment patterns: a need-structure gap (bounded autonomy), a vertical safety-structure gap (team vs. higher-level safety), and a development-structure gap (readiness vs. structural accommodation). The findings advance agile assessment research by shifting from maturity evaluation to human-centered organizational diagnostics, enabling interventions that enhance alignment and learning in scaled agile transformations.