Effective nudging as a booster for agile collaboration in innovation

Agile methods such as Scrum enable structured and iterative work processes in product development. However, cognitive biases often lead to planning inaccuracies, particularly during sprint planning. This study investigates whether nudges can improve planning quality in agile teams. In cooperation with an industrial partner developing mechatronic safety systems, tailored nudges were designed and implemented in two Scrum teams. Using a before-and-after design, the effects on story granularity and sprint completion rates were analysed. The results show that, especially in less mature teams, nudges led to a reduction in average story size and an increase in sprint fulfilment. Rather than causing abrupt changes, nudges supported ongoing learning processes and fostered more consistent planning. The study provides initial empirical evidence that nudging can serve as a practical tool to enhance decision-making quality in agile development environments.

Subjects

agile development

behavioural economics

cognitive bias

decision architecture

innovation management

mechatronics

Nudging

planning quality

scrum

sprint planning

story size

DDC Class

600: Technology

Options

Effective nudging as a booster for agile collaboration in innovation