Behavioral Determinants of Satisfaction in Planning Poker: Examining the Role of Organizational Citizenship Behavior

Topic

This thesis investigates how Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB), defined as voluntary, supportive behaviors by team members, relates to participant satisfaction with Planning Poker, an agile estimation method commonly used in software development. Specifically, it explores the effects of four OCB dimensions (interpersonal helping, individual initiative, personal industry, loyal boosterism) and agile maturity on participants' satisfaction.

Relevance

Understanding what influences satisfaction during Planning Poker is highly relevant for agile practitioners, as satisfaction can directly impact team engagement, productivity, and retention. While agile teams often rely on structured methods like Planning Poker to improve estimation accuracy, neglecting behavioral factors such as voluntary proactive participation and established agile norms could diminish the effectiveness of these practices. This research identifies which specific behaviors and maturity characteristics actually matter in Planning Poker, allowing teams to strategically prioritize team-building activities and tailor agile training to support more satisfying and effective estimation sessions.

Results

This research found that agile maturity was the strongest predictor of participants' satisfaction with Planning Poker sessions, overshadowing the role of Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB). Initially, higher levels of OCB were significantly linked to greater satisfaction. However, once agile maturity was considered, the influence of OCB diminished substantially. Among the specific OCB dimensions, only individual initiative (proactive engagement and communication) independently predicted satisfaction prior to including agile maturity. These findings suggest that structured agile practices themselves largely drive participant satisfaction, while proactive behaviors contribute meaningfully but conditionally.

Implications for Practitioners

• Promote proactive behaviors and open idea-sharing during agile estimation.
• Regularly conduct training sessions and maintain clear agile guidelines to positively influence satisfaction.
• Focus training on behaviors encouraging active engagement and transparent discussions.
• Regularly acknowledge behaviors that positively impact team estimation processes.
• Provide environments supportive of open discussions and participation.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey method was utilized with 103 agile software professionals. Data collection involved an anonymous online questionnaire assessing OCB dimensions, agile maturity, and satisfaction with Planning Poker. Hierarchical regression analyses, supported by exploratory ANOVA and post-hoc tests, ensured thorough analysis. Rigorous statistical tests checked multicollinearity, homoscedasticity, and normality assumptions, ensuring the reliability of conclusions.