Any methodology (DevOps, Scrum, SaFE, or ITIL) requires leadership. Some evangelists can debate for hours the differences between Scrum Master and Project Manager. It boils down to leadership. The leader working in DevOps is a crucial component of entrenching a new culture that thrives on agility and change. He or she must articulate the vision and help align all stakeholders.
Essential Project Management Tasks in DevOps
- Promoting Collaboration
Scrum Masters or Project Managers lead cross-functional teams that work together seamlessly, and every team member owns the quality of the deliverables. In DevOps, there is a psychologically secure environment known as a “blameless” culture where true DevOps can happen. Failure is a part of the process. In fact, the process encourages it. Teams should use failure to get better quality.
Leaders should establish and maintain a culture of continuous improvement, continuous learning, and adaptation.
- Focusing on Value
Leaders help teams focus where the organization derives the most value. They should prioritize needs instead of taking a linear approach to the organization's needs. The project manager should always ask how each action contributes to the desired business outcome. The complexity of systems today requires that teams focus on what is most important.
- Visible Workflow
Creating, organizing, and maintaining a visible workflow is one of the leaders' key roles. When a DevOps team loses visibility into what the team is doing, then misalignment on the end goal is inevitable.
A visible workflow allows the team to stay on mission and enables the project manager to communicate progress to leadership efficiently.
Conclusion
Project management helps to drive value-based behavior in the DevOps environment. It sets the tone for cross-functional teams and creates a collaborative environment. Gibson Group’s DevOps Project Management and Scrum professionals can help entrench a culture of agility and change that will propel your organization to the next level.