The DevOps model, a set of tools and practices and a cultural philosophy that automates and integrates the processes between development and operations teams, has become integral to quickly and efficiently delivering software without compromising quality. There are many reasons to consider applying for DevOps courses. This tried and true approach to software development is now widely adopted across the IT industry, and apart from continuous DevOps training, having a good DevOps strategy is key to uniting team members and enabling them to do a job well.
But as with many things in the business world, implementing the principles of DevOps successfully and managing teams around the model is much easier said than done. Some of this difficulty lies in the fuzzy definitions of DevOps since the term can mean differently from one company to another.
For instance, one company may refer to their DevOps specialists as strictly the delivery side of their operations. In contrast, others could include anyone involved in the design or development of a product in some capacity. That said, if you are uncertain of which people are on the DevOps team, managing them efficiently is impossible in the first place.
For this article, we will refer to DevOps as the entire framework of development and operations teams working together to quickly develop and deliver high-quality software. Thus, the tips below are best geared towards organisations with software engineers and other employees working hand in hand to deliver value by creating software products.
1. Prioritise communication among team members
A key benefit of having a dedicated DevOps team for every product area is having team members united under the DevOps umbrella and getting everyone on the same page simultaneously. This keeps every team aligned for the entire project instead of having to pass the baton around from product engineers to test engineers and then the delivery team that handles product release.
In other words, a close working relationship among DevOps team members facilitates constant communication and a quick feedback loop that makes switching gears seamless and makes the project more nimble. Managing a DevOps team successfully relies on making sure this communication occurs openly and frequently.
2. Ensure the team’s stability amid changes
Good communication and the project’s successful completion rely on maintaining team cohesion. Furthermore, in-depth product knowledge guides technical design decisions and delivery strategies. Having members constantly join and leave the project leads to a lack of this vital product-specific knowledge, a sense of ownership and responsibility over the outcome, and unfamiliarity regarding the project details and communication hierarchy.
Keeping teams together under one roof helps mitigate this confusion. This can be achieved in many ways, such as keeping members on the project even if they switch to a new one, having teams focus on a single project at a time, or assigning members that have worked on the project to mentor new teammates.
3. Have teams focus on the right goal
DevOps team managers are responsible for keeping track of the big picture while their team members work on their day-to-day deliveries. Their job is to ensure that most, if not all, of their team’s actions align with the project’s end goals, which should always revolve around delivering the most value instead of shipping potentially unnecessary changes.
Even just one aspect getting lost in the weeds could cause the whole team to lose sight of what matters. Thus, managers must keep their members on track and move forward together by maintaining visibility of the project’s ultimate goal whenever they reach a fork in the road.
4. Pinpoint and correct bottlenecks and sticking points
Close tracking of important project metrics provides good visibility that lets DevOps teams quickly notice if certain areas do not look right. And if managers prioritise open and speedy communication, as mentioned above, members who spot such errors can quickly notify everyone else on the team.
For instance, if certain parts of the development have tasks that take too long to complete or bug reports on a particular feature keep popping up, teams can identify those issues in the tracked metrics. Whenever such issues arise, members can deploy a fix before they turn into a bigger problem.
Conclusion
DevOps poses unique challenges that organisations overcome with time and experience. That said, managing the teams following this approach is something else that is an entirely different ballpark, given that businesses leverage DevOps differently. Thus, tailor the tips above to your particular environment and may they serve as a good starting point towards successfully managing your DevOps teams.
To improve your DevOps teams’ performance and get them up to speed on emerging practices, consider signing them up for DevOps training with BridgingMinds. Our DevOps courses provide a comprehensive course regimen that ensures your talent stays ahead of the game to support your organisation’s success. Besides DevOps training, we also offer a range of courses, from PMP virtual training in Singapore to CISSP training. Get in touch with us today to learn more!
