Newer project management models have become popular among organizations and businesses in the last decade. Traditional project management involves a step-by-step approach to a solution and often does not adopt a framework to build the process. One of the new approaches is DevOps project management. Adapting DevOps for project management means that DevOps processes are replacing traditional practices. Instead of various teams working in different silos, collaborations happen more often, and the processes in the teams are more streamlined. What is DevOps Project Management for Businesses and Organizations?The DevOps philosophy, prominent in software development, involves collaborating the development and operations teams to ensure an application's smooth development and deployment. DevOps mainly consists of continuous integration and continuous development/deployment pipelines, which form one of the leading practices in this culture. In project management, several teams combine to work together and streamline the entire process.The main advantage of DevOps project management is that the focus is on improving the process rather than the end product. Since the product cycles and processes are perfected, the quality of the product is ensured to be great. By implementing DevOps in project management, businesses can achieve better results and a more enthusiastic work culture.How Does DevOps Project Management Differ from Traditional Models?In the traditional model of project management, rigid waterfall methodologies are often employed, and teams work in separate silos. While these techniques might have been relevant a few years ago, they are ineffective in the current workspace scenario. The lack of flexibility and the focus on a linear workflow can be restrictive in many fields, especially in software technology.DevOps project management, on the other hand, takes the best practices, like CI/CD, and works them into project management practices. By giving priority to flexibility and integration of different teams, DevOps emphasizes the need for fresh practices in project management. Project managers also use Agile methodologies like Scrum - Agile is all about breaking the entire process into small phases and working to perfection within them.DevOps Management v/s Project ManagementDevOps is a combination of “developer” and “operations”, a software development strategy built for cross-functional teams in an organization to work more efficiently. The goal of the DevOps team is to develop superior-quality apps and products. Project management is the practice of using skills and techniques to achieve a unified goal and deliver value. A typical workday for a project manager includes tracking, measuring and co-ordinating to ensure deadlines are matched and quality outcomes are delivered.DevOps - How Does it Help Project Managers?Project managers in DevOps ensure that the collaboration of different teams and the switch to DevOps methodologies is done seamlessly. To be a DevOps project manager, you should have ample experience working in a DevOps environment and also have expertise in implementing DevOps tools and practices. As a project manager, you will be ensuring that the newly adopted methodology integrates well with the teams and that the workflow is streamlined.What are the Essential Skills for a DevOps Project Manager?Being a DevOps manager means that you have immense experience, both in technical and managerial roles. So, as a project manager in DevOps, you need project management experience as well as technical knowledge and experience in working with DevOps models. You should also be able to implement and succeed with various Agile methodologies.Experience with DevOps and Agile Principles As a DevOps project manager, one is expected to have immense experience in working with DevOps practices and Agile methodologies. The manager should be aware of the CI/CD pipeline and how it works, along with the importance of iterative cycles. The focus is on improving the process and prioritizing the individual teammate over processes.Collaboration and Communication The main concept of DevOps is collaboration among teams. The breaking down of silos leads to a better flow of communication, thus enhancing the processes that happen between different teams. A DevOps project manager should facilitate collaboration and communication among teams, encouraging them to work together on projects for better results.Technical Knowledge Since DevOps and Agile involve a wide range of tools and techniques, it is mandatory for a DevOps project manager to be trained in technical skills and knowledge. Experience with automation tools, CI/CD pipelines, and iterative techniques becomes crucial to enable a streamlined DevOps cycle in any project.Problem Solving and Team Management As it goes for any project manager, problem-solving skills are crucial for a DevOps project manager as well. Problem solving gains more emphasis in this case as different teams collaborate for work, and the problems faced might not be similar to the ones in the traditional project management setup. The DevOps manager should be able to communicate across teams without any issues and resolve issues accordingly.Flexibility Flexibility is the essence of DevOps - organizations shift to DevOps methodologies because it offers their teams a better working model that offers better results. A DevOps project manager is expected to follow the necessary practices and create a space of flexibility for all the teams to work effectively.Benefits of Adopting DevOps for Project ManagersIntegrating DevOps project management can be a great option for your organization as it boosts productivity and increases the quality of the work in multiple ways. Here are some benefits of adopting DevOps practices for project managers and management in any business.Visualizing the ProcessThe wide range of DevOps tools and technologies available help you visualize the entire DevOps cycle effectively, helping you achieve goals easily. Strategy and OrganizationDevOps for project managers means effective strategy, better organization, and formulating practices that work for every team. As DevOps offers flexibility, project managers can design procedures and strategies that work for the team and ensure maximum output.Improved DeliveryThanks to continuous development and deployment techniques, DevOps ensures improved quality in reduced time periods. Best Practices for DevOps Project ManagementDevOps is an agile approach with varied methodologies and practices from project management. Reports suggest that global enterprise agile transformation services is projected to reach $142 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 18.1% from 2023 to 2032.These statistics depict that agile organizations generate higher-quality products and services, due to their adaptability to iterate on products quickly.To ensure the best output, focus on:Adopting an MVP approachTechnology projects tend to be time-consuming and highly extensive. An MVP (minimal viable product) strategy refers to approaching the project with the least but quality features that accomplish a part of the goal. In a DevOps project, the goal is to continuously upgrade the product, until it’s fully completed. The advantage of an MVP is that customers are a part of the product journey and get the opportunity to share feedback before the project is complete.Teamwork, Communication and LearningDevOps projects require catering to product nitty-gritties, leading to teams often working cohesively. Fostering a collaborative culture and encouraging cross-functional motivation will be an added advantage to the project. In every project, each stakeholder within the team needs to ask clear questions, understand the project end to end, and work in harmony to deliver the final output in a timely manner. Inculcate a culture of learning within the team, and adopt the new learnings for present and future projects. Leverage AutomationIn the advent of AI, leverage automation tools to conduct redundant tasks like scripting and software tools to ensure streamlined communications between teams. With the time saved, teams can identify areas of improvement to increase project efficiency. Prioritize securityIncorporate security measures throughout your DevOps lifecycle, with enterprise-grade standards and regulations. For heightened security measures, periodically assess vulnerabilities and take corrective measures. What are the best DevOps Project Management Tools?Automation is an integral part of DevOps projects, hence leveraging tools with automation will make your processes faster. Some of the best DevOps project management tools are:Click upClickUp is a cloud-based project management and collaboration tool. Its ability to integrate with other common DevOps tools and features specifically for software development make it a strong DevOps project management tool.ConfluenceA part of the Atlassian DevOps suite, Confluence is a team workspace, specifically for remote teams. It’s best suited for collaboration, documentation, project management, analysis and automationDockerDocker is a platform for software development and delivery using containerized images. The Docker platform has application programming interfaces and security to support every step of the software development lifecycle.GitHubGitHub is owned by Microsoft, runs on Azure and is the most commonly used DevOps management tool. GitHub facilitates access control, bug tracking, request management, task management, and automation, along with many other features. The Bottom LineDevOps project management is a new approach to management - instead of applying linear, traditional project management techniques, this method adopts DevOps practices and agile methodologies for better results. Different teams collaborate on projects, communication is encouraged, and CI/CD pipelines are enabled for enhanced workflow. Due to continuous and iterative cycles of different phases of work, high-quality results are ensured at every stage of the workflow. DevOps for project managers means the professionals have to be skilled in DevOps technologies, tools, and techniques. By adopting a DevOps project management style for your organization, you can ensure improved results in a smaller time frame.Read Morehttps://devopsden.io/article/kpi-for-devopsFollow us onhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/devopsden/
