Challenges to agile software project management practices in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

The Agile approach is focused on individuals and customer satisfaction, based on the dynamic and streamlined work of a team that is capable of adapting, and adapting the project to changing scenarios and demands. However, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Agile teams accustomed to in-person communication have encountered the challenges of working from home. The main objective of this research is to analyze the challenges generated by the pandemic context, and the consequent social distance, for the development of software projects that use Agile approaches within a large state-owned company and identify the effect it had on the course and results of the projects. The research was qualitative in nature and had two exploratory diagnostic stages. The findings indicate that there were no negative impacts of relevance on project deliveries. On the one hand, results indicated losses in socialization, in spontaneous exchanges of knowledge, and in interaction among teams, as well as a demand for greater engagement of professionals. Additionally, limitations were revealed for more complex discussions and knowledge management. The study highlights solutions that were found and/or suggested for many challenges, contributing to the literature on best practices for the Agile approach, and is focused on the unprecedented context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings can contribute to other companies with a similar profile that work with Agile projects, besides contributing to building a dialogue between the academic and business environments. Resumo: A abordagem ágil é focada nos indivíduos e na satisfação do cliente, fundamentada no trabalho dinâmico e simplificado de uma equipe capaz de se adaptar e adequar o projeto às mudanças de cenários e de demandas. Contudo, em meio à pandemia da COVID-19, equipes ágeis habituadas à comunicação face a face se depararam com a implantação do home office. O objetivo central desta pesquisa é analisar os desafios gerados pelo contexto de pandemia e do consequente distanciamento social para o desenvolvimento de projetos de software que aplicam as abordagens ágeis em uma empresa estatal de grande porte e os impactos identificados no decorrer e nos resultados dos projetos. A pesquisa teve cunho qualitativo e ocorreu a partir de duas etapas diagnósticas exploratórias. Os achados mostram que não houve impactos negativos de relevância nas entregas do projeto. Indicaram por um lado perdas na socialização, nas trocas espontâneas de conhecimento