Kaizen-inspired DevOps - Techniques for high-performing teams

High-performing teams sustain their momentum through the synergy of skilled individuals, efficient processes, and adaptable practices. The primary objective of performance tuning is to minimize inefficiencies and bolster a team’s ability to withstand external disruptions.

Delve into a diverse array of techniques and processes aimed at reducing wastage and enhancing resilience with Branislav Bujisic. Our journey will commence with an exploration of the contemporary skill set essential for constructing swift and anti-fragile systems. Subsequently, we will delve into the development and management methodologies that underpin both the team and product in the face of a dynamic environment. Finally, we will investigate the tools available to support these methodologies effectively.

This session will provide valuable insights to anyone with an interest in DevOps, team scaling, and agile methodologies.

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Key moments: 0:00 - Intro

6:01 - 10 principles of Kaizen

• Kaizen’s continuous improvement approach summarized.
• Key principles: constant improvement, analytical thinking, automation.

7:14 - Kaizen event

• Kaizen process overview: plan, implement, evaluate, standardize.
• Focus: reducing waste, boosting performance through small changes.

8:05 - Increased performance by elimination of waste

• Identifying and eliminating various forms of waste.
• Goal: Increase performance by streamlining processes.

8:57 - Can we measure performance?

• Performance metrics overview: deployment frequency, recovery time.
• Balancing metrics with organizational health.

10:57 - The 3 pillars of high performance

• Key pillars: technical capabilities, lean processes, generative culture.
• Empowering teams with modern skills, fostering automation.

11:28 - Technical capabilities

• Modernizing technology stacks, embracing cloud-native patterns.
• Importance of automation, reducing technical debt.

12:00 - Cut ties with the legacy technology

• Encouragement to migrate from unsupported technologies.
• Benefits of loosely coupled architectures, immutable containers.

13:07 - Cloud-native design patterns

• Introduction to cloud-friendly architectures.
• Designing applications to be antifragile, resilient.

14:29 - Reduce complexity and waste through standardization

• Standardization to reduce waste, improve efficiency.
• Importance of standardizing development practices.

15:41 - Infrastructure as code (IaC)

• Provisioning infrastructure using version-controlled code.
• Enhances flexibility and scalability for managing infrastructure.

17:07 - Commodify the tool stack

• On-demand infrastructure provisioning through platforms like PaaS.
• Enables efficient resource utilization and scalability.

17:38 - Lean processes

• Focuses on processes delivering value to customers.
• Utilizes cross-functional initiatives for streamlined decision-making.

18:52 - Cross-functional initiatives

• Empowers teams for faster decision-making.
• Avoids bureaucratic bottlenecks and escalations.

20:23 - Distribute decision making process

• Decisions made at the team level, avoiding hierarchies.
• Enables faster responses and agility within teams.

20:35 - Cloud native DevOps driven change management

• Testing changes in a production-like environment.
• Adoption of cloud-native architectures for scalability.

21:03 - Documentation is foundational

• Vital for organizational success.
• Tools like Confluence facilitate efficient documentation management.

21:27 - Efficient code review and feedback

• Cultivates a culture of timely feedback and collaboration.
• Enhances code quality and collaboration among team members.

21:37 - Generative culture

• Fosters psychological safety and open communication.
• Embraces collaboration and innovation for organizational success.

22:18 - Westrum’s Organizational Typology

• Identifies different organizational cultures: Pathological, Bureaucratic, and Generative.
• Emphasizes the benefits of a generative culture for performance.

23:44 - Focus on mission before organization

• Management approach centered around the organization’s mission.
• Promotes trust and collaboration for achieving goals.

24:04 - Manage through trust, not control

• Embraces trust-based management over micromanagement.
• Encourages collective success and teamwork.

24:17 - Promote others, not yourself

• Values teamwork over individual achievements.
• Recognizes the collective effort of high-performing teams.

24:25 - High performers are constellations, not starts

• Success attributed to collective team effort.
• Highlights the importance of collaboration and teamwork for achieving goals.

24:43 - Ending