Succeeding with DevOps; it's not about DevOps.John Clapham, Cotelic

It seems almost impossible to hide from extravagant claims aboutDevOps; bring operations and development together and you'realmost guaranteed improved resilience, speed of execution, andquality - all at reduced cost. In reality just starting, never mindsustaining, DevOps ways of working is challenging. One reason is thatIT seldom exists in isolation; it interfaces, and interferes, with manyparts of the business.

This talk explores why those external factors are critical to the successof DevOps, what can be done to encourage them, and howdeveloping a DevOps culture can help, or hinder, the widerorganisation.

John Clapham@JohnC_Bristol

Cotelic

www.cotelic.uk

Succeeding with DevOps; it’s not about DevOps.

Succeeding with DevOps; it's not about DevOps.

@johnC_Bristol - @KainosSoftware

When adopting, or evolving DevOps it is

tempting to focus just on tech and those

two teams…

Development and operations are part of a bigger system…

…a much bigger system…

…a complex system…

…even the ITIL person.

Benefits from adoption are helped and

hindered by the surrounding environment.

Succeeding with DevOps; it's not about DevOps.

“Some more things to worry about other than

tools, developers and operations”

@johnC_Bristol - @KainosSoftware

1. Understand your organisation’s goal

If a system is to improve it must have a

goal….

The elevator test: Can you explain the goal

in a short journey between floors?

Public goals are useful rally points…

Public goals are useful rally points…

…encouraging feedback and conversation

2. Know your impact on the system

Narrow focus on Development and Operations

has risks:

Narrow focus on Development and Operations

has risks:

- Over optimisation in one area sub-optimises

the system

Narrow focus on Development and Operations

has risks:

- Over optimisation in one area sub-optimises

the system

- Efficiency gains may be useless if other

systems don’t change.

Narrow focus on Development and Operations

has risks:

- Over optimisation in one area sub-optimises

the system

- Efficiency gains may be useless if other

systems don’t change.

- Closer connections between groups may

weaken other connections, leading to new

silos.

What do other departments expect?

This?

We give them…

Interdependent elements:

Culture,

Tools,

Architecture,

Process,

Organisation.

“[Tools] don’t work for learning about each

other, for really coming together to know

and understand each other”

-Sherry Turkle

3. Learn how to learn

Learning takes commitment…

…and time

Learn from other’s attempts…

Learn from others attempts…

… failures are full of learning.

On a personal note:

Learn how you learn

Listen, diversely…

Listen, diversely…

Exclusively seeking those who ‘get it’ denies

you a fresh perspective and a wealth of

experience.

4. Prepare for change

When encouraging change it’s easy to

loose the perspective of others.

- We take time to get used to new ideas.

Roger’s innovation & Adoption Curve.

- We take time to get used to new ideas.

- We react to change by stalling, supporting

or suppressing.

David Viney - J Curve Effect observed in change.

Appetite for risk determines comfort in this area

- We take time to get used to new ideas.

- We react to change by stalling, supporting

or suppressing.

- Our appetite for risk determines our pace

of change.

TL;DR?

- Consider people’s reaction to change,

take a community approach.

4. Prepare to change.

4. Prepare to change yourself.

“Progress is impossible without change,

and those who cannot change their minds

cannot change anything”

- George Bernard Shaw

DevOps is not just about new thinking, its

about renewal…

A little self awareness goes a long way…

Sir, are you aware your behaviours

discourage collaboration?

Reflections…

Increased collaboration between technical

teams brings real benefits.

Their potential is often governed, or

constrained, by the organisation around

them.

Focus on key areas can further adoption,

and allow collaboration to flourish.

1. Understand your organisation’s goal

2. Know your impact on the system

3. Learn how to learn

4. Prepare for change

5. Prepare to change yourself

Learn from DevOps, but don’t sweat the

definition…

Learn from DevOps, but don’t sweat the

definition…

…It’s your context, it’s your call.

John Clapham@JohnC_Bristol

Cotelic

www.cotelic.uk

Thanks!

Further reading…

My blog, Erratic Mumblings:

http://johnclapham.wordpress.com/

My Slideshare:http://www.slideshare.net/john.clapham/presentations

Bath Scrum User Group (Not just in Bath, and not just for Scrum!)

http://www.meetup.com/Bath-Scrum-User-Group/

References…Sherry Turkle, Connected But Alone.

http://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together?language=en

The Kubler-Ross Model

http://www.managetrainlearn.com/page/kubler-ross-model

Roger’s Adoption Curve

http://www.valuebasedmanagement.net/methods_rogers_innovation_adoption_curve.html

David Viney, J Curve (Book) – “The Intranet Portal Guide: How to Make the Business Case

for a Corporate Portal, Then Successfully Deliver”

Kanban (Book) “Successful Evolutionary Change for Your Technology Business”

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kanban-David-J-Anderson/dp/0984521402

Story of DevOps and Continuous Delivery at Nokia Entertainment

http://www.infoq.com/articles/monthly-devops-01-nokia

References…The Goal

http://northriverpress.com/the-goal-25th-anniversary-edition/

Danny MacAskill

http://www.dannymacaskill.co.uk/videos/

Images…Merits of ferrets

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sovietuk/2499720301

Solar system

https://www.flickr.com/photos/turbojoe/421680689

Change

https://www.flickr.com/photos/arthurjohnpicton/4383221264/

Lego trooper

https://www.flickr.com/photos/59104528@N08/6015476029/

Contortionist

https://www.flickr.com/photos/100915417@N07/9625565178

Cogs

https://www.flickr.com/photos/aussiegall/4085532798

Images…

Fireworks

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tombricker/8641228250

Agile conference

https://www.flickr.com/photos/yourdon/7822889344

Reflections

http://www.flickr.com/photos/uk_pictures/3483034558/