Large-scale agile frameworks are becoming increasingly popular as a means to scale agile in organisations. The underlying expectation is to profit from the benefits agile methods exhibit in smaller contexts. Scaling agile proves to be an intricate task and has exposed challenges and success factors over various studies. Most scaled agile frameworks focus on implementation of methods, practices and routines, which entails certain challenges for agile transformations. Although some mention is made of agile mindset in scaling activities, the current situation suggests that agile mindset as the core of agility has not been leveraged to its full extent and is underrepresented. To address this matter and re-conceptualise large-scale agile, a new holistic concept is developed that utilises the socio-technical systems thinking in creating an agile mindset approach for scaling agile in organisations.

Agile software development frameworks are rapidly growing in popularity across the world and have transcended into areas outside of Information Systems. They have proven to be a success factor, a reason why many organisations are adopting agile frameworks and accelerating the transition to agility. Scholars and practitioners alike have uncovered that a crucial factor of agility is an Agile Mindset. Despite its significance, there is no common definition of Agile Mindset to date. It is an ambiguous term with a lack of clarity that makes it susceptible to misinterpretation and misuse. Hence, the research goal of this paper is to create a definition of Agile Mindset and thereby provide an understanding of the concept. The Methodology followed a two-step approach. In the first step a review of scientific and practitioner literature was conducted. In the second step the literature was complemented by primary data acquired through interviews with agile practitioners. The result of this research study is a first comprehensive definition of Agile Mindset, which can serve as guideline for scholars, practitioners and the general agile community.