GitOps Fish Series — (Rib 2) Culture and Team Collaboration — The Human Element

5 min readSep 6, 2023

While there is a natural tendency to focus on technology or procedural aspects in most cases, the spotlight must remain on the individuals and teams that drive the shift. After all, the most advanced automation toolchains are only as effective as the teams wielding them, and transformation always starts with people.

We can highlight some key areas, illustrated in above diagram, at the core human elements to drive the transformation.

Cultivating the Right Mindset

In the current fast-paced environment that we live in, adaptability isn’t just beneficial, it’s essential. This encompasses not just the technical skills but also the mindset in which teams teams approach tasks. The essential lies in nurturing an adaptable thought process that welcomes change and sees challenges as opportunities for growth.

Additionally, having and holistic vision enables team members to align their actions with the overarching goals of seamless and valuable delivery to end-users.

Key Soft Skills

Soft skills are pivotal in fostering a harmonious DevOps/GitOps environment. While technical skills are essential, soft skills like communication and persistence facilitate meaningful interactions and drive teams toward shared objectives. By valuing and developing these interpersonal skills, organisations lay the foundation for smoother operations and enhanced collaboration.

Skill Upgradation

Complacency is the arch-nemesis of innovation. Continuous Learning and Training serve as the lifeblood of relentless advancement and resilience. It’s not merely about staying updated, forging ahead and carving new paths in the vast tech landscape. Embracing an unyielding commitment to education ensures that teams keep pace and set the pace.

When promoting continuous learning and upskilling, you should not focus only on the technological aspects. As mentioned in DevOps Institute’s Upskilling IT Report 2023, you should consider 5 dimensions.

NOTE: I am adding some brief definitions and charts only, consider reading the report for more comprehensive details on each one.

Process Framework Skills: This skill capability includes various process frameworks applied within IT organisations.

Technical Skills: This skill capability includes a variety of technical skills essential within modern IT organisations.

Human Skills: This skill capability includes emotional intelligence, psychological safety, dynamic learning, happiness at work, diversity and inclusion and a growth mindset.

Leadership Skills: This skill capability includes key leadership skills to lead and manage modern IT teams.

Automation Skills: This skill capability focuses on IT automation themes and topics to improve how work gets done and can be seen as technical skills.

Learning from Failure

DevOps and GitOps demand more than just reacting to failures; they call for proactive exploration through continuous experimentation. Indeed, setbacks and failures are not just setbacks; they’re potent lessons waiting to be unearthed. But innovation doesn’t just thrive on learning from past mistakes; it burgeons when we intentionally court the unknown, testing hypotheses and learning in real-time.

Continuous experimentation embodies the spirit of taking calculated risks and trying new tools, processes, and strategies, even if the outcomes are uncertain. It complements the essence of learning from failures. When things don’t go as anticipated, the focus should shift to introspection and understanding instead of penalising teams for their missteps.

In future articles related to RIB Practices, I am counting on providing more details on this, but until then, consider that blameless postmortems play a crucial role in this culture of exploration and reflection. They serve as structured sessions where teams dissect an incident without casting blame. The objective isn’t to point fingers but to delve deep into the factors leading to the failure. By doing so, gaps in processes, tools, or communication can be identified and rectified, and it also paves the way for future experimentation with a more precise roadmap. This fosters an environment where teams are emboldened to innovate, backed by the assurance of a supportive culture that values continuous improvement and sees failures as stepping stones to mastery.

Conclusion

As the DevOps/GitOps transformation reshapes how organisations operate and deliver value, it’s crucial to remember that the human element is at the heart of this transformation. Beyond the automation tools, processes, and technical know-how, the mindset, soft skills, and the spirit of individuals and teams truly drive success. By nurturing these elements and creating an environment that encourages experimentation and learning from failures, organisations optimise their technical operations and foster a culture of innovation and growth.

Please note that the opinions and views expressed in this article are solely my own and do not represent my employer’s official position or policies. This is a personal commentary based on my experiences and thoughts, and although I aim for accuracy, there may be errors or omissions in the content.

Articles in this series: