# Best Practices Evidenced for Software Development Based on DevOps and Scrum: A Literature Review
## 1 Introduction  
Agile frameworks, particularly Scrum, have become an increasingly popular approach to software development, promising enhanced flexibility, faster delivery cycles, and improved product quality [1]. Complementing Agile frameworks, Development and Operations (DevOps) methodologies aim to streamline the software development lifecycle through automation, collaboration, and continuous feedback [2]. While the benefits of Scrum and DevOps are well documented, their successful adoption can be particularly challenging for very small entities (VSEs) [3, 4].  
VSEs are typically defined as organizations with fewer than 25 employees [1], often operating with limited resources, restricted budgets, and a lack of specialized expertise [5]. These constraints can make it difficult for VSEs to implement the organizational changes,invest in the necessary tooling, and provide the adequate training required for effective Scrum and DevOps adoption. Furthermore, the existing literature on Scrum and DevOps often focuses on larger organizations, potentially overlooking the specific requirements and challenges of VSEs [3]. Therefore, a consolidated understanding of the specific practices and successful factors that enable VSEs to leverage Scrum and DevOps effectively is required [5,6].  
To address this gap, this study presents a systematic literature review aimed at identifying and consolidating the fundamental practices and success factors associated with Scrum and DevOps implementation in VSEs. This research seeks to answer the following questions: **RQ1: What factors are fundamental to success in implementing Scrum? RQ2: What factors are fundamental to success in implementing DevOps? RQ3: What are the common DevOps practices documented in the literature? RQ4: What practices are common for both Scrum and DevOps?** By synthesizing the existing knowledge, this review aims to provide actionable insights for VSE practitioners seeking to improve their software development processes, which according to [7] is something fundamental for those who want to implement practices suggested by agile frameworks.  
The main contributions of this study include the identification of critical success factors for implementing Scrum and DevOps, the main practice of DevOps, the common practices of both frameworks, the challenges and mitigation strategies for implementation, and the empirical and quantitative benefits of Scrum and DevOps. These findings highlight the importance of tailoring Scrum and DevOps practices to the specific context of VSEs.  
This review is essential because it provides a consolidated and contextualized understanding of Scrum and DevOps for VSEs, enabling them to make informed decisions and adopt practices that are most likely to lead to success. By addressing the specific challenges and opportunities faced by VSEs, this research contributes to the broader goal of improving software development practices and business outcomes in these organizations.  
The remainder of this study is structured as follows. Section 2 describes the research methods used in this systematic review. Section 3 presents the results of our analysis. Section 4 discusses the implications of our findings, and Section 5 concludes with recommendations for future research and practice.