Sometimes when a concept as transformative as DevOps comes along, it’s easy to forget that subsequent adoption represents a highly complex and iterative process.
While it’s clear that some organizations are already deeply leveraging DevOps to embrace the Applications Economy and Digital Transformation, it’s no surprise that for many organizations this process has only just begun.
So where have today’s organizations made the most progress, and what are the most significant challenges that practitioners continue to face?
To get a better fix on the current state of DevOps maturity and isolate the specific areas where most organizations must continue to focus their attention, researchers at Freeform Dynamics have created a matrix of practices key to measuring progress, dubbed the “DevOps Jigsaw”.
Drawn from the same survey data recently surfaced to profile leading-edge “Digital Disruptors” that have already wrapped their arms around DevOps advancements, this latest report, sponsored by CA Technologies, offers a crucial view into the current environment.
It’s worth noting that of the 1000-plus respondents included in this particular data slice, the vast majority, or 80%, are categorized as “Early or Limited” adopters, with only 20% recognized as “Advanced”.
Of the nine individual DevOps “puzzle pieces” examined in the report, experts grouped these efforts under three umbrella categories: “Key Enablers and Controls”, “Skilled and Collaborative IT”, and “A Business Led Approach”.
Business Led Approach – This subset encompasses strategy and objectives required to tie DevOps adoption to larger business goals, including:
- Well-defined strategy and objectives – In this key planning stage of DevOps transformation, 55% of respondents said that much of their work is “already done”, while another 36% charted it as “a work in progress”.
- Business stakeholder education – Roughly 33% of respondents said that this informative step in DevOps adoption is complete, with a larger majority of 43% noting that they are still working to advance this process.
- IT-business alignment of priorities – In getting stakeholders on the same page around business and DevOps direction, some 37% indicated that they are nearly done, with 43% of still attempting to embrace these efforts.
Skilled and Collaborative IT – This genre of requirements covers the cultural and automation capabilities necessary to foster DevOps success, including:
- Relevant IT knowledge and skills – Related to the development of DevOps expertise, 39% of respondents feel that they’ve already made the grade, with 40% conceding that they have more homework to complete.
- Cross-functional IT processes – As much as any related initiative, DevOps mandates tighter internal collaboration, with only 35% of respondents having achieved this goal, and 45% citing the need to keep pushing.
- Cultural harmony within IT – On a related note, DevOps teams must work together smoothly to succeed, with a mere 29% of respondents claiming such parity, offset by 46% that acknowledge a teamwork deficit.
Key Enablers and Controls – This category of DevOps maturity addresses key issues of technology, solutions acquisition and IT security, including:
- Right infrastructure and tooling – Efficient tooling and infrastructure are another key DevOps enabler, with some 37% of respondents feeling good about their current solutions, and 42% still looking for answers.
- Right suppliers and support – In sourcing the products and services required to advance DevOps process, only 33% of respondents said that they’ve found the right providers, with 46% still seeking additional help.
- Security and compliance measures – No area of IT can be addressed without consideration of security and audit issues, with 35% of respondents comfortable with their controls, and 46% in need of added defenses.
Given these overwhelming results, it’s clear that most organizations still have a long way to go in achieving greater DevOps maturity; at the same time, there’s also plenty of evidence that today’s practitioners have already made a good deal of progress.
Comparing your efforts to these established “DevOps jigsaw” puzzle metrics should help inform future strategy in creating a more cohesive framework of people, process and technologies, and deliver DevOps success.