Introduction: In our era where efficiency and speed are often the primary focus in operational and development processes, there is a growing movement towards integrating deeper, more meaningful principles into these practices. This movement, known as Value-Driven DevOps, seeks to embed core organizational values into every aspect of development and operations, thereby enhancing not only the technical outcomes but also the overall impact of these activities on stakeholders and the business as a whole. By translating the values into the way of working the tangible output becomes clearer and creating or owning it a joint effort.
- Traditional DevOps: Traditionally, DevOps has been focused on unifying software development (Dev) and software operation (Ops) to improve collaboration and productivity, emphasizing automation, continuous delivery, and efficiency.
- Value-Driven Shift: Value-Driven DevOps extends this concept by incorporating the organization's core values into DevOps practices. This includes not just operational values but ethical, social, and business values as well.
Core Principles of Value-Driven DevOps:
- Alignment with Organizational Values: Aligning DevOps strategies and practices with the broader values and goals of the organization. Ensuring that every operational and developmental decision supports these values.
- Customer-Centric Approach: Focusing on delivering value to the customer, not just through product features but also through reliability, user experience, Lifecycle management, Regulatory requirements and ethical practices such as Responsible investing. Building products and services that resonate with customer needs and truly values.
- Ethical and Sustainable Practices: Emphasizing responsible tech practices, sustainability, data privacy, and security. Making ethical considerations a core part of the DevOps process.
Implementing Value-Driven DevOps:
- Integrating Value into DevOps Culture: Cultivating a culture that embraces and practices the organization's core values that is delivered using methods such as AGILE and SCRUM. Encouraging teams to consider how their work aligns with these values.
- Value-Based Decision Making: Making decisions in the DevOps process that reflect the organization's values. Considering the impact of these decisions on customers, employees, and the broader community.
- Training and Awareness: Providing training usually naturally during refinement processes to ensure that all team members understand and can apply the organization's value in their work. Raising awareness about the importance of value-driven practices.
- Metrics and KPIs: Developing metrics and KPIs that measure not just performance but also the adherence to and impact of the value.Using these metrics to guide continuous improvement.
- Value Based Funding: Let's keep this one for another article!
- In our heavily regulated Financial Services Industry, we are moving step by step on purpose, our shop has to stay open, client's need to be serviced all while we are integrating the value driven approach into the DevOps way of working. Traditionally we would be organized around applications, systems and services however, the Crossovers between system would create tension between teams introducing ambiguity on who was responsible for which area in between. By shifting our paradigm from application, system or service-oriented thinking introducing and forging focus and co-ownership of the -to be delivered value-, we are now actively sharing responsibility and create and take ownership at all parties involved should they be either business or IT. this also means that T shaping, and knowledge sharing becomes more natural and part of a continuous process. Because without properly understanding what our "part in the machine" is we can't jointly own or be responsible for the to be delivered value. This case studies demonstrates how integrating and focusing on value our DevOps way of working has resulted in improved customer satisfaction, innovative solutions, and better alignment with business objectives.
Conclusion: Value-Driven DevOps marks a pivotal evolution in the approach to development and operations within organizations. By infusing core values into every facet of these processes, businesses are positioned to ensure that their operational activities contribute meaningfully to their overarching missions and objectives. This approach transcends mere technical excellence, fostering a comprehensive and accountable approach to development and operations. It resonates deeply with customers and stakeholders alike, establishing a more responsible, value-oriented operational ethos. This shift not only aligns with business objectives but also fosters a culture of shared responsibility and co-ownership, leading to improved customer satisfaction, innovative solutions, and a stronger alignment with business goals.
