Investigating software development methodologies and practices used in Iranian software development teams

The body of knowledge in systems and software engineering in Iran is still emerging. An important area within this body of knowledge concerns software development methodologies and project-level practices, which directly influence deliverables and software product quality. However, this domain remains under explored in the Iranian context, with limited empirical evidence regarding its local adoption and application. This study investigates the extent to which Iranian software development teams are familiar with these concepts and how they implement them in practice. It fur ther examines how traditional and agile approaches are integrated within team workflows. Relevant methods were identified through a literature review, and the research instrument was validated by domain experts. A national survey was conducted, yielding 244 valid responses. Reliability was confirmed using Cron bach’s alpha, and both descriptive and inferential statistics were applied—using Kruskal–Wallis and chi-square tests—to evaluate eight research hypotheses. The highest levels of familiarity and implementation were observed among senior practitioners—particularly product and project managers with over ten years of experience. Moreover, most organizations showed a preference for evolutionary over revolutionary approaches when integrating traditional and agile methodologies and practices. These findings offer valuable insights for shaping national-level software engineering strategies and may contribute to improving the global competitiveness of Iranian software companies.