Unlocking Transformation - Implementing GitOps Practices in Conservative Organizations - (Open Source Summit / cdCon Japan 2023) 2023年12月4日（月） NTTデータグループ システム技術本部 ADM技術部 菅原 亮

1. © 2023 NTT DATA Group Corporation
Unlocking Transformation:
Implementing GitOps Practices in Conservative Organizations
December 4th, 2023
Web公開向け資料

2. Introduction
© 2023 NTT DATA Group Corporation 2
GitOps practice is one of the best ways to realize new-generation release workflows. It was so tough to
progress build-release workflows in the pandemic. Most organizations have an approval flow when
you release anything.
GitOps practice can realize those flows using issues, tickets, or something like that. Undoubtedly,
GitOps practices revolutionize the collaboration between developers and infrastructure engineers,
erasing traditional boundaries. And then, your CI/CD processes could become significantly more
productive than they are now.
However, it's not uncommon to encounter resistance when introducing new methods due to concerns
about job security, potential pay cuts, and other similar reasons, particularly within conservative
organizations.
I'll present a case study from my own experiences that demonstrates how these significant hurdles
can be successfully overcome.

3. Self-introduction
© 2023 NTT DATA Group Corporation 3
Ryo Sugahara
@denkas1973
NTT DATA Group Corporation
▪ Application Development & Management Technology Department
▪ System Engineering Headquarters
▪ Technology and Innovation General Headquarters
Job Title: Technical Grade
Development Platform Modernization Evangelist
Specialty: Infrastructure Automation
Infrastructure as Code, CI/CD, GitOps

4. About NTT DATA
© 2023 NTT DATA Group Corporation

5. 5
© 2023 NTT DATA Group Corporation
Introduction

6. Before the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games
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Previously, most projects would gather team members on-site to carry out release tasks.
Many companies were preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
And it was anticipated that commuting to the office would be difficult at this time.
Working at the office
Telecommuting
Server room

7. The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic
© 2023 NTT DATA Group Corporation 7
The pandemic has changed our work style to telecommuting.
The systems prepared for the Tokyo Olympic Games were helpful for business continuity.
Locked down
Telecommuting
At that time, it wasn’t considered that carrying out release workflow with telecommuting would be possible.
Server room
On-site tasks were
prohibited.
DON’T 密(mi-tsu)
密 means “dense”

8. Locked down
The release workflows under the telecommuting situation
8
The pandemic had changed our working style to telecommuting.
However, release tasks still required on-site collaboration.
As a result, many projects had no choice but to be on hold for their release tasks.
Server room
On-site tasks were
prohibited.
We aren’t allowed to access
servers from remote sites.
How should we
overcome this?
© 2023 NTT DATA Group Corporation

9. 9
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What happens if you attempt to implement
GitOps in conservative organizations?

10. Why do some individuals resist modernization?
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Historical projects in conservative organizations usually have many old traditions.
However, it’s only bounding themselves by old traditions.
People who resist modernization always want to preserve old traditions, even if it is unreasonable.
GitOps? No! Who is going to take
responsibility for this if it fails?
I won't change anything!
There is no doubt
that GitOps is the
best way to
overcome this!
You
Your boss

11. The 5 Monkeys Experiment
The same issues often happen as in "The 5 Monkeys Experiment".
Are you bound by the rules that no one knows the reasons for?
11
I wanna get
bananas!
I’ll get a
banana!
I’m hungry. That’s mine!
I’ll be a
winner!
© 2023 NTT DATA Group Corporation

12. The 5 Monkeys Experiment
12
DON’T
GO!
DON’T
GO!
DON’T
GO! DON’T
GO!
DON’T
GO!
DON’T
GO!
DON’T
GO! DON’T
GO!
Are you sure?
Why?
I got a banana!
OK, I’ll stop it.
Monkeys besides a monkey
getting a banana are splashed
with cold water by the system.
The monkey attempting to get
a banana is stopped from
getting it by the other monkeys.
A newcomer monkey is stopped from
attempting to get it by the existing
monkeys. It gives up on getting it even
though it doesn't know the reason.
Even though all the monkeys
have been replaced with
newcomers, there is no
monkey attempting to get it.
There’s no monkey
attempting to get it
anymore even though
no splash system.
ICY!
YIKES!
Why did we have
to avoid getting a
banana?
I don’t know.
But it’s a rule.
HORRIBLE!
TERRIB
LE
SPLASH!
The same issues often happen as in "The 5 Monkeys Experiment".
Are you bound by the rules that no one knows the reasons for?
© 2023 NTT DATA Group Corporation

13. The 5 Monkeys Experiment
13
DON’T
GO!
DON’T
GO!
DON’T
GO! DON’T
GO!
DON’T
GO!
DON’T
GO!
DON’T
GO! DON’T
GO!
Are you sure?
Why?
I got a banana!
OK, I’ll stop it.
Monkeys besides a monkey
getting a banana are splashed
with cold water by the system.
The monkey attempting to get
a banana is stopped from
getting it by the other monkeys.
A newcomer monkey is stopped from
attempting to get it by the existing
monkeys. It gives up on getting it even
though it doesn't know the reason.
Even though all the monkeys
have been replaced with
newcomers, there is no
monkey attempting to get it.
There’s no monkey
attempting to get it
anymore even though
no splash system.
ICY!
YIKES!
Why did we have
to avoid getting a
banana?
I don’t know.
But it’s a rule.
HORRIBLE!
TERRIB
LE
SPLASH!
The same issues often happen as in "The 5 Monkeys Experiment".
Are you bound by the rules that no one knows the reasons for?
© 2023 NTT DATA Group Corporation
We call it,
謎ルール
“Mysterious Rules”.

14. 14
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How to start convincing the resistance?

15. How to start overcoming a huge barrier
15
People who resist modernization always want to preserve old traditions.
They need to feel safe accepting the pressure to change it.
Resistant people are looking for reasons they can avoid modernization.
© 2023 NTT DATA Group Corporation
We should use
GitOps practice!
I don't know what
risks would
appear if we
change our ways.
My tasks might
disappear if we
introduce GitOps!
I don't want to
learn new things
anymore.
How to start convincing those who are resistant?
We must do many
tests if we change
our ways! However,
there's no time and
budget to do that!

16. A fusion of tradition and modernity
16
Using tools familiar to old fogies can help them feel secure.
Combining old and new technologies is a good way in such a situation.
Someone might not want to do coding tasks.
The “coding allergy” is often a barrier to modernization.
A fusion of tradition and modernity can make old fogies feel safe.
© 2023 NTT DATA Group Corporation
I don’t want to do
any coding tasks…
Could you please write
design documents
using code?
Could you please
generate code using
Microsoft Excel?
No way! I’m not going
to change my ways!
Sure.
I’ll cope with that!

17. Increase supporters
17
It would be impossible to modernize your organization alone.
You would need good supporters to achieve it.
© 2023 NTT DATA Group Corporation
Supporters can be a significant driving force in facilitating your transformation.
GitOps is one of the best ways
to increase productivity for us!
I strongly
agree with
you!
I strongly agree
with you! I strongly agree
with you!

18. 18
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What is the best approach to persuading
your boss and your clients?

19. Qualitative and quantitative measurements
19
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Qualitative data is blurry because that's a different understanding depending on people.
Using quantitative data to persuade your boss is an effective way instead.
Having two teams manage identical tasks, one using the old method
and the other the new is a sound strategy for a benchmark test.
I know that but
that's easier said
than done.
Yes! It must be an
effective way to
increase
productivity!
GitOps implementation
is going well, isn't it?
That’s good.
Please measure
the effect
quantitatively.

20. Starting to carry out small-scale systems or projects
20
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Your modernization would fail -
if you were carried out by a large-scale system from the beginning.
Starting to carry out small-scale systems or projects to accumulate experience is crucial.
I heard that ABC project
succeeded in GitOps
implementation.
GitOps? I know that method.
But it is a very big change
from our current ways.
It seems to have positively impacted
the project. We should replicate this
approach in our project!
I think our project is
too big to implement
GitOps at one time.
Too big a change
is always
dangerous.

21. Gather a collection of successful experiences
21
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Running an improvement cycle is necessary
and also accumulating knowledge for the operation.
“カイゼン (KAIZEN)” cycle always makes your GitOps operation better.
I think we should
change this
process to…
I think it was going wrong.
So, we should modify it.
Put improvements on the processes.
I expect it will be
going well next
time.
Improvements

22. Provide enough support
22
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Providing enough support makes people feel safe to challenge new things.
Modernization needs enough support as well.
Providing training courses to project members before starting a project is one of the good ways.
Start project
Training project members to use modern tools.
Project members will be able to get used to GitOps smoothly.
What
GitOps is…

23. 23
© 2023 NTT DATA Group Corporation
The best practices for adopting GitOps
in conservative organizations

24. Case studies
24
© 2023 NTT DATA Group Corporation
Test
Run test
Run build
Notice
Commit & MR Authorize Authorize
Developer / Operator Reviewer Authorizer
We expect it could improve productivity by more than 50% on this model project.
Build
Provide training courses
for project members.
IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY BY MORE THAN 50%

25. Conclusion
25
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You can’t progress modernization
by yourself alone:
Enlist people who resist modernization.
People who have decision-making
power need quantitative data:
There are some ways to measure quantitative data
on modernization effects.
It is a crucial thing to make
project members feel safe:
Provide enough support to project members.