Impact of Social, Cultural, and Generational Barriers on Agile Requirements Management: An Analysis from the Perspective of Software Development Teams

Abstract

Requirements management in agile environments largely depends on collaboration and effective communication among team members. However, sociocultural and generational barriers introduce significant challenges that can hinder these key processes. This article examines how human factors—such as cultural diversity, generational gaps, and social norms—negatively influence the elicitation, prioritization, and documentation of requirements in agile projects. Through a review of case studies and existing literature, the main challenges imposed by these barriers on development teams are identified, affecting both their performance and the quality of delivered products. The findings suggest that differences in cultural values and generational expectations significantly impact communication and decision-making in these contexts. To mitigate these effects, strategies are proposed that enhance collaboration in global and multicultural settings, strengthening agile requirements management in diverse teams.