DevOps culture is slowly paving its way into various industries, transitioning from software-oriented companies to virtually any field. Though it won’t be suitable for each and every firm, it can certainly benefit the majority of modern companies.
However, the transition to DevOps culture or mindset isn’t an easy one. You can’t simply make a decision one day and implement it the next. It requires accurate planning and careful execution to ensure the best results.
So, how can you adopt a new mindset through DevOps culture successfully?
Table of Contents
What is the DevOps culture?
DevOps literally implies the coordination between development and operations. It means that the automation attempts of the company should be in line with operations to guarantee successful execution. Consequently, DevOps culture is based on principles such as improved collaboration, learning, reasonable automation, accurate feedback, and a high rate of autonomy.
However, implementing those principles isn’t enough for the transition. It’s also necessary for each team member to understand what this mentality implies and what its main characteristics are. Accelerating DevOps culture is possible through a high level of transparency and clear communication with the team members.
Main characteristics of the DevOps culture
Continuous learning and improvement
In the DevOps culture, learning and improvement are harbored through the transition from perfectionist outlook. Instead of striving to create a flawless product, DevOps companies usually build good prototypes and improve it gradually. They utilize flexible tools to add new features and test effectively with the purpose of refining the processes or products.
Improved team autonomy
Another important characteristic of DevOps is the improved team and individual autonomy. In traditional organizations, even simple tasks can take days to complete because the employees can’t make decisions themselves. They have to follow a long pipeline to get their point across and start implementing necessary changes.
On the contrary, DevOps culture creates teams that can make decisions on their own. Such teams rely on tools that automate and speed up communication. If a small change needs to be made, individuals will make decisions autonomously and send the task to the following link in the chain.
Shared responsibilities
DevOps thrives on shared responsibilities. Not only does it promote better coordination between development and operations, it also puts each team in charge of the process. In such a culture, the development team manages the whole lifecycle of the project – from ideating to building and to execution. Similarly, the operations team is interested in the development process as much as it is in deployment.
Fast feedback
Fast feedback is one of the most significant characteristics of the DevOps culture. It speeds up the processes significantly. Once the code is ready, the development team can get feedback and make necessary changes quickly. By doing so, the whole process becomes more effective.
Empowerment through trust
By valuing autonomy, the DevOps mentality also fosters empowerment through trust. Each member of the team is considered qualified enough to make the decisions themselves. They understand what has to be done and how. Consequently, they are treated as professional individuals who can execute their responsibilities independently.
Improved collaboration
DevOps culture improves collaboration by eliminating any obstacles in communication. Information flows smoothly through the organization, guaranteeing the best performance from each team.
How can you adopt a new mindset through DevOps culture?
The key to adopting a new mindset through DevOps culture is ensuring that its characteristics are carefully explained and executed. To achieve that, you should improve visibility through high-quality DevOps tools and speed up processes by eliminating informational silos. It’s also important to explain why it’s necessary to make changes in the structure of the organization and automate processes.
DevOps culture is successful only if you have a clear vision and are willing to take a risk. Naturally, you should carefully analyze the adoption process and all of its obstacles before you begin the transition. You should also educate your team members about the upcoming changes, on board them with new tools, and support them if they have a hard time adapting to the new culture. By doing so, you’ll ensure that you’re not sacrificing the satisfaction of your employees for the DevOps culture. After all, it’s all about achieving better results and increasing efficiency, isn’t it?