The Role of Assertiveness in Agile Software Team Communication
The Role of Assertiveness in Agile Software Team Communication

Author(s): Liliana Coşulean
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Theoretical Linguistics, Lexis, Semantics, Phraseology
Published by: Biblioteca Ştiinţifică a Universităţii de Stat Alecu Russo
Keywords: Agile communication; Speech act theory; Illocutionary acts; Direct and indirect speech; Agile meetings; Linguistic analysis; Team collaboration;
Summary/Abstract: Efficient communication in Agile teams is based on structured interactions, which can be analyzed through Speech Act Theory. This paper explores how Searle’s illocutionary acts—assertives, directives, commissives, expressives, and declarations—shape Agile activities such as stand-ups, sprint planning, retrospectives, and reviews. Understanding the function of speech acts within Agile enhances clarity, engagement, and collaboration. Moreover, alternative classifications, including Austin’s locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary acts, as well as the theories of Bach & Harnish and Brown & Levinson, provide additional perspectives on team dynamics, politeness strategies, and indirect communication. Direct speech acts predominate in Agile communication due to their transparency and efficiency, but indirect ones are useful for diplomacy and cultural adaptability. This linguistic approach helps Agile teams optimize their communication strategies, improving collaboration and the process of continuous learning.

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