This document discusses how to lead DevOps teams by focusing on five key areas: diversity, vision, strategy, management, and tools. It emphasizes that culture emerges from these factors. Diversity of thought and new ideas are important for innovation. A shared vision and aligned strategy allow individuals to rally around a cause and unlock passion and energy. Management involves directing individuals and assets to execute the strategy. Tools should continuously improve organizational processes. The employee lifecycle is also examined, noting the importance of attraction, recruitment, onboarding, development and retention at each stage.

1. Leading DevOps Teams
Hire, Grow, and Manage
Ben Rockwood
Director of IT & Operations
Chef Software
@benr

2. SYSTEMS THINKING

3. Key’s for Growth
Culture emerges as a result
1. Diversity
2. Vision
3. Strategy
4. Management
5. Tools

4. Diversity
Diversity doesn’t happen despite
our differences,
It happens because of them.
● “Diversity of Thought”
● Innovation requires new ideas
● Create an environment in which
radically new ideas can flow
● Control the process, not the
people

5. Vision
Unity of purpose
&
Shared Identity
● Individuals rally to a cause
● Aligned vision unlocks passion,
energy and innovation
● “Where there is no vision, the
people perish” - Prov. 29:18

6. Strategy
Channeling Vision into Action
● Vision without Strategy is wishful
thinking
● “In preparing for battle I have
always found that plans are
useless, but planning is
indispensable.” -Eisenhower
● Resources:
○ Business Model Canvas
○ Playing to Win -Martin

7. Management
Direction of Individuals and Assets
to execute the Strategy
● Managers in fast-moving
organizations must also be Leaders
● Managers continuously assess and
direct in changing circumstances
● Emphasis on the system lifecycles
and “big picture”
● Build process and policy to reduce
friction
● Resources:
○ The Fifth Discipline -Senge
○ The New Economics -Deming
○ Recreating the Corporation -Ackoff
○ Management -Drucker

8. Tools
Continuously building and
enhancing organizational tools to
increase velocity
● Continuous Improvement: LEAN
● Problem Solving: A3
● Operations: ITIL & COBIT
● Execution: Kanban/Scrum
● Systems Thinking
● Design Thinking
● Complexity Theory & Cynefin

9. Key’s for Growth
Culture emerges as a result
1. Diversity
2. Vision
3. Strategy
4. Management
5. Tools

10. Employee Lifecycle

11. Life Cycle Breakdown
Attraction Recruitment Onboarding Development Retention Separation
Processes

12. Life Cycle Breakdown
Attraction Recruitment Onboarding Development Retention Separation
H i r e I n s p i r e A d m i r e R e t i r e
Managerial Duties

13. Life Cycle Breakdown
Attraction Recruitment Onboarding Development Retention Separation
H i r e I n s p i r e A d m i r e R e t i r e
High Engagement Variable Engagement Low Engagement
Employee Engagement

14. Life Cycle Breakdown
Attraction Recruitment Onboarding Development Retention Separation
H i r e I n s p i r e A d m i r e R e t i r e
High Engagement Variable Engagement Low Engagement
Vision Strategy Vision Personal Development Opportunity
Motivational Source

15. Life Cycle Breakdown
Attraction Recruitment Onboarding Development Retention Separation
H i r e I n s p i r e A d m i r e R e t i r e
High Engagement Variable Engagement Low Engagement
Position & Pay Culture Learning & Challenge Organization/Promotion Knowledge Transfer
Key Managerial Focus
Vision Strategy Vision Personal Development Opportunity

16. Life Cycle Breakdown
Attraction Recruitment Onboarding Development Retention Separation
H i r e I n s p i r e A d m i r e R e t i r e
High Engagement Variable Engagement Low Engagement
Position & Pay Culture Learning & Challenge Organization/Promotion Knowledge Transfer
Key Managerial Focus
Vision Strategy Vision Personal Development Opportunity

17. Life Cycle Breakdown
Job 1 Job 2 Job 3 Job 4
Average Employee Tenure: 2 - 3 years

18. Your
Assignment
1. Step back and look at the big picture
2. Question yourself and your
alignment to vision and strategy
3. Be realistic
4. Keep it simple
5. Embrace failure (quickly)
6. Continuously learn and improve

19. Thank You.
Ben Rockwood
Director of IT & Operations
Chef Software
benr@cuddletech.com
@benr