So you’re a convert. You understand the value of DevOps
, and how it can enhance your operations, and you’re ready to take the plunge and redraw your organisation’s processes along DevOps lines. But how on earth do you get started, and what critical information do you need to have before you can successfully implement a DevOps strategy? Without adequate preparation and without the correct tools to foster collaboration, you might be overwhelmed at the prospect of completely revamping your development and deployment operations.
Fortunately, there is no hard-and-fast rule for what makes DevOps work. Critically, DevOps requires a high degree of collaboration, but how you achieve that objective is entirely up to you and will differ hugely according to what makes sense for your organisation and your internal operation procedures. Whatever setup you choose however, there are a few universal conventions you can follow to make the planning, implementation and long term success of your DevOps strategy run smoothly. Follow our 5 step guide to get you started on the way to DevOps success.
1. Define what DevOps means for your organisation
DevOps processes vary hugely in investment and sophistication, so your first task should be to define what DevOps means for you and your organisation. This definition will allow you to determine which changes will be required to deploy the process and set expectations as to how your DevOps strategy will affect your organisation’s outcomes. For example, if you are low on resources, you might want to implement daily meetings between teams to start information sharing. Alternatively, if you have the leeway to implement collaboration tools and a joint development environment, you may consider a larger revamp of processes, with the introduction of cutting edge technology to make the transition of DevOps work more effectively.
2. Start with a trial – Build a pilot DevOps team
Eventually, you’ll want your entire organisation to be a part of your DevOps strategy, but starting small with a pilot team will help to minimise risk and learn some important lessons – what works for you and what needs refining. Create a dedicated team of developers and engineers who are willing to execute your DevOps vision by testing new processes and tools and make them the trailblazers for the process. Your pilot team can then give valuable feedback as to how the strategy is working and what needs refining before a wider rollout can take place. An enthusiastic pilot team can act as ambassadors for your DevOps strategy and eventually teach best practice to other members of your organisation.
Using a small team as a pilot will also start to enable you to build a clear picture of what your DevOps team structure would ideally look like. There are a number of templates you could consider when developing your team structure – the best structure for you will depend entirely on your organisation’s size, the nature of your operations and your modus operandi. A degree of trial and error may be required, which is why starting with a small pilot is vital.
3. Match the tools you use to your DevOps visions
Collaboration rather than technology is the central component of DevOps, but that doesn’t mean that you should ignore the technological aspects completely – doing so could mean that you deploy an innovative process only to have it fail because you don’t have the tools to support it. Your team is often best placed to assess what technology is required, so with your team’s input, determine what tools you’ll need to enable collaborative development across your organisation. Ask for team input prior to your pilot, at the pilot stage and post pilot, then choose your DevOps tools carefully according to the size of your team and the nature of your operations. This well help smooth the path in the implementation of your new DevOps strategy. Once your DevOps strategy has been rolled out across your organisation, keep monitoring the tools you are using for effectiveness and update them as needed.
4. Communicate, communicate, communicate
Communicate to everyone. Operate a democracy rather than a dictatorship and consider the input of all team members rather than presenting a DevOps mandate as a fait accompli. Once you have your process in place, communicate why and how the methodology will benefit participants before it is deployed.
A you begin to integrate teams and processes, be sure to keep communication going. And be honest – rather than brushing failures under the rug, communicate where processes go awry and what lessons can be learned to make your processes more effective. Continuous and effective communication will help ally any worries about the implementation of new processes, monitor effectiveness and foster enthusiasm in your team.
5. Remain flexible
Don’t be too rigid and don’t become so ingrained in your strategy that you are blind to its failings. There is no one-size-fits-all for DevOps. Be prepared to adopt more or fewer DevOps tactics as you experiment with the processes in your organisation, and don’t be afraid to discard anything that is not working.
Des Nnorchiri
Des Nnochiri has a Master’s Degree (MEng) in Civil Engineering with Architecture, and spent several years at the Architectural Association, in London. He views technology with a designer’s eye, and is very keen on software and solutions which put a new wrinkle on established ideas and practices. He now writes for markITwrite across the full spectrum of corporate tech and design. In previous lives, he has served as a Web designer, and an IT consultant to The Learning Paper, a UK-based charity extending educational resources to underprivileged youngsters in West Africa. A film buff and crime fiction aficionado, Des moonlights as a novelist and screenwriter. His short thriller, “Trick” was filmed in 2011 by Shooting Incident Productions, who do location work on “Emmerdale”.