Adopting DevOps Methodology

This is the third post in a series of three by effectual CEO, Robb Allen. The first two posts can be read here:
     • Embracing DevOps to Solve IT Tension
     • Defusing the Tension

The successful adoption of DevOps is about much more than accepting a new methodology – it means embracing a new culture. DevOps methodology requires seeing engineering and IT more holistically. They work together throughout the product lifecycle, with some organizations merging them into a single team.

DevOps culture decreases time to market while increasing reliability, scale, and security through closer collaboration between development (engineering) and operations (IT). It can require a sea change in your company’s culture, but again — the costs of not adopting DevOps can be far greater.

DevOps methodology requires seeing engineering and IT more holistically.

Fostering Communication and Cooperation

  • Create a unified reporting structure for DevOps teams. Set clear expectations and guidelines, driven by fundamental values.
  • Build cross-functional teams including both engineers and IT technicians.
  • Leverage engineers to assist IT technicians in understanding complexities involved in delivering business features.
  • Leverage IT technicians to help engineers understand how involved 24/7 support of those features is.
  • Automate repetitive tasks, freeing up engineers and IT technicians to perform more creative, value-adding work while reducing human error.
  • Make feedback a fundamental feature of workflow to encourage communication-driven action. Create a culture of data sharing.

Driving Improvements through DevOps

While DevOps is generally part of product development, it can also be an invaluable tool during cloud migration. No less an authority than Bina Khimani, Global Head of Partner Ecosystem (Cloud Migrations) at Amazon Web Services, made this case in late 2017. A survey of 450 C-level and VP/director-level executives in the United States, Canada, and the UK found 54 percent already leveraged DevOps methodologies.

This is not an easy direction to move in, even with the best circumstances. It requires unwavering leadership in the truest sense of the word. However, the rewards are wide-ranging, including:

  • Continuous development with shorter development timetables.
  • Decreased complexity.
  • Faster problem resolution.
  • More productive teams with higher morale and engagement.
  • More opportunities for professional development.
  • More time spent creating and innovating, as opposed to fixing and maintaining.

The Undeniable Benefits

The 2016 State of DevOps Report from Puppet found DevOps adoption resulted in a 200-fold increase in deployment times, 24x increase in recovery times, and a 3x decrease in change failure rates.

Cloud deployment can be the perfect time to start adopting these changes in your organizational culture. Successful adoption means that not only does everyone win, but everyone will feel like they’ve won as well. That’s a value you just can’t put a price on.

Robb Allen is the CEO of Effectual Inc.

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