In the world of agile project management (Agile, XP, Lean), many team collaboration techniques emerge that boost efficiency, quality, and flexibility. Some of them – such as pairing, swarming, or mobbing – are not formally described in the PMBOK®, but they are widely used in practice. It’s worth understanding their applications and differences.

👥 Pairing (Pair Programming)

Definition: Two developers work together on the same task using one computer.

• One — the driver — writes the code.

• The other — the observer/navigator — reviews, suggests improvements, and plans ahead.

Goal: Improve code quality, detect errors faster, and promote team learning.
Application: Agile, Extreme Programming (XP).
PMI Status: Informal technique.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Mobbing (Mob Programming)

Definition: The entire team (or part of it) works together on a single task at one computer.
Goal: Quickly solve complex problems through maximum collaboration.
Difference from pairing: Involves more than two people.
Note: Do not confuse with the psychological term mobbing (workplace bullying).
PMI Status: Informal technique.

🐝 Swarming

Definition: A technique where the team temporarily stops other tasks to focus collectively on one urgent issue.

Features:

• Flexible and ad hoc.

• Supported by self-organizing teams.

• Responds to risks and critical delays.

Application: Scrum, Agile (e.g., toward the end of a sprint).
PMI Status: Recognized practice in the Agile Practice Guide.

🔁 Refactoring

Definition: Changing the internal structure of the code without altering its external behavior.Goal: Improve code quality and simplify maintenance.Application: Agile, XP.PMI Status: Informal, but supported in the Agile Practice Guide as part of continuous improvement.

📊 Comparison of Techniques
 

🧠 Summary

Although techniques like pairing, swarming, mobbing, and refactoring are not formally defined in the PMBOK®, they are practical components of agile teamwork. They support quality, collaboration, faster problem-solving, and continuous product improvement. Understanding these concepts is especially useful when working in Agile environments or preparing for certifications such as PMI-ACP® or PMP®.