The survey was taken by 100 representatives of different companies using Agile methods. Survey responses originated from companies in 35 countries, including United Kingdom. Sweden, Egypt, United States, France, Canada, India, Spain, Poland, Ukraine, Malaysia, Brazil, Netherlands, Romania, Italy, Australia, Germany.

A pie chart displaying all the tools used with appropriate percentages is shown in Figure 1. Note that the survey questions made it possible to choose several tools, and most responses included more than one tool. As can be seen from the pie chart, 25% of all responses include physical wall and paper, and 23% include spreadsheets. It is interesting to note that a total of 35 different Agile project management tools were mentioned in the survey results, not counting the different in-house tools.

Figure 1: Tool usage percentages

Figure 2 shows a summary of the responses by categories. The categories consist of Agile project management tools, tangible tools (physical wall and paper), spreadsheets, traditional project management tools (MS Project), and in-house tools. The responses are differentiated by companies with distributed and collocated teams.

Figure 2. Categories of tools used in collocated and distributed teams

Figure 3 presents a Venn diagram showing the percentages of Agile project management tool usage, tangible tool usage, and their overlap, in the case of collocated teams. It is interesting to note that half of all collocated teams using Agile project management tools also use physical walls and paper, despite the fact that most Agile project management tools include a virtual task board meant to replace physical walls.

Figure 3. Overlap percentage of tangible and Agile project management tool usage

Figure 4 and 5 present the most and least satisfactory aspects of the tools used. Note that in many cases the responses included more than one tool. In these cases, the mentioned most and least satisfactory aspects refer to all the tools used in conjunction. It is interesting to note that ease of use is most frequently mentioned as the most satisfactory aspect. One can conclude that this is the most valued aspect, and the combinations of tools are aimed in a manner to increase usability. Lack of integration and lack of custom reports from the majority of the negative aspects mentioned.

Figure 4: Most satisfactory aspects of the tools used

Figure 5: Least satisfactory aspects of the tools used

In general, as can be seen from Figure 6, only 8% of all replies did not mention any negative aspects of the tools in place. This result points towards the fact that the tools used do not adequately support people’s needs and, especially, the needs of company management. Lack of integration with other systems is a negative aspect which could have been predicted. After all, no Agile project management tool can include integration for all possible systems used in all companies using Agile methods. Such integration can only be achieved by means of an in-house tool, which can also include custom reports as well as be adapted to the process in place.

Figure 6. Summary of percentages of mentioned negative aspects

Agile tool usage survey highlights the fact that a large majority of companies adhere to simple tangible tools, and that usability is the most valued aspect of tool usage. Further, the most common problem faced by companies is lack of integration and reports, which are impossible to cover by standardized tools. A detailed analysis of our survey results will be published later.

More information gathered by survey is presented in the figures below:

Figure 7. Teams structure

Figure 8. Agile methods used

Figure 9. methods used separated by companies with distributed and collocated teams

Figure 10. Agile project management tools used across all companies, in both distributed and collocated teams

Figure 11. Percentages of Agile Project Management tools used in the surveyed companies

As part of our thesis work, Migan and I are conducting a survey regarding usage and needs of Agile project management tools. The goal is to get an idea of what tools companies are using, and what features they would like to have. Please take a minute to answer the questions and help us gather statistics! :]

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