Emerging Through the Noise: Communication Modes, Leadership, and Cultural Hierarchies in Agile Game Development
Anders ERICKSON
Production
Emerging Through the Noise: Communication Modes, Leadership, and Cultural Hierarchies in Agile Game Development
The rapid growth of the video game industry has made successful development reliant on large, multidisciplinary teams collaborating effectively. Post-COVID-19, hybrid and remote work environments became the norm, introducing fresh challenges in communication, leadership, and team cohesion. As game studios navigate return-to-office mandates and the realities of remote flexibility, my thesis was driven by a key question: How do teams communicate effectively and stay productive in this evolving landscape?
My research addressed this by analyzing 12 agile game development teams across six milestones, focusing on how communication modes, cultural hierarchies( power distance), and emergent leadership shape team
dynamics and performance. I found that teams using fewer communication modes performed better, suggesting that streamlined communication reduces misalignment and cognitive overload. Teams also adapted their communication methods based on development needs, rather than cultural predispositions, which emphasizes the importance of selecting tools purposefully for each project phase. Additionally, low power distance team environments fostered greater instances of emergent leadership, which reinforces the value of decentralized, collaborative team structures.
These findings offer practical guidance for game producers and aim to contribute to the broader conversation on optimizing teamwork and leadership in an evolving industry.
56 PRODUCTION