Articles

Continuous Improvement in Configuration Management Continuous Improvement in Configuration Management

Continuously improving your configuration management practice results in delivering high-quality, complex software beautifully and efficiently. But it’s equally as important to observe the entire CM process so you can envision and plan for worst-case scenarios as well as think about how you can scale with time—and keep on improving.

Ankush Chadha's picture Ankush Chadha
initiation, design, production path Visualizing the Complex Software Development Process

Software development is an elaborate process, so many organizations follow defined procedures. But it can be difficult to keep track of every step. It is often helpful to try to visualize the complex processes involved; seeing them outlined can help you understand what needs to be completed and how to manage the overall effort.

Bob Aiello's picture Bob Aiello
lifecycle circle Using Agile Application Lifecycle Management to Streamline Status Accounting

Status accounting is following the evolution of a configuration item through its lifecycle. Using application lifecycle management along with agile helps prevent mistakes, but lets you have the minimum amount of red tape; the team achieves an acceptable velocity without being unduly burdened with too much process.

Bob Aiello's picture Bob Aiello
silo falling down How to Break Down Silos to Build the Perfect DevOps Team

A degree of specialization is essential in every company, but it can lead to dangerous divisions and an outdated structure. Breaking down your silos initiates the cultural change that’s required to build an effective DevOps team and fully realize the potential benefits of everyone’s talents.

Andrew Phillips's picture Andrew Phillips
team holding hands Understanding Culture and Agile Application Lifecycle Management

While the technical complexity of real-world ALM may be substantial, sometimes the people issues present even more complex challenges. Being able to understand the personalities and work culture of the folks doing the work can help you implement ALM in a comprehensive and effective way.

Leslie  Sachs's picture Leslie Sachs
cross out waste Use Lean Thinking to Accelerate DevOps Performance for Agile Teams

Leaders in agile organizations should consider adding lean techniques to their DevOps practices. Lean thinking can accelerate DevOps delivery by providing a set of processes and principles to help create more beneficial products, save money, boost productivity, reduce waste, and map to value.

Gail Ferreira's picture Gail Ferreira
connected hands Building Effective, Cross-Functional Integrated Product Teams

Product development team members are often focused on the component level, but understanding the whole system is a challenge. Forming cross-disciplinary integrated product teams can provide support for large and small efforts in either agile or traditional development, helping teams achieve total system lifecycle expertise.

Susan Land's picture Susan Land
Rocky road My Journey to Adopting DevOps

There’s good reason DevOps is an emerging trend in the IT industry—it alleviates prevalent problems, such as operational waste, and emphasizes collaboration, communication, and visibility. Uday Kumar details how he became a believer in DevOps by recalling the rocky road he took on his way to adoption.

Uday Kumar's picture Uday Kumar
Automated testing Deploy Automated Testing to Create Better Software

Receiving feedback on your testing results should yield dividends in quality. And the sooner you get that feedback, the quicker you can start seeing improved and consistent quality and faster time to market. So the question becomes, why wait to jump on the automated testing bandwagon?

Viktor Clerc's picture Viktor Clerc
Breaking the chain Disrupting Dysfunctional Behavior with DevOps

IT leaders need to creatively confront operations and development when they are not working together effectively. DevOps enables new, innovative approaches to communication and collaboration that can be considered disruptive—but sometimes, shaking things up is the most critical step in the journey to adopting better behaviors and interactions.

Leslie  Sachs's picture Leslie Sachs

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