Methodology and Tools
The complaint
The development of an application is often too slow for the business, which can cause tensions and a loss of market opportunity. Working transparently and efficiently also necessitates many additional tools, such as a building environment or documentation tool. As non-IT companies generally don't have these tools, this is an added investment.
The remedy
By developing iteratively and incrementally, an initial version (minimum viable product) can be delivered quickly. The iterative approach also provides a lot of feedback loops and a proper focus on the most important functionality. A DevOps factory usually has an ecosystem of tools that are tailored to the available methodology. The tools provide real-time quality control and automate labor-intensive tasks. Often, agile coaches are also available to constantly evaluate and adjust the process.
Managed Services and Maintenance
The complaint
Once an application is finished, it must be transferred to a maintenance team. This often leads to loss of knowledge, and is a time-consuming process. If the work is done in iterations, support is really required from the first release.
The remedy
Maintenance is carried out by the same team in a DevOps factory. Managed services were already operational during the project, with the team providing support and continuing work in parallel to the road map.
Collaboration and Business Value
The complaint
Passing on a project to an external team can also raise concerns. Is it really safe to have knowledge build up about my organization in the course of the project? Will the team remain a black box to us? In short, involving an unknown party leads to uncertainty.
The remedy
The company the DevOps team works for is considered a full team member. This also means that all your business knowledge is taken into account during the project. Cooperation is close, with contact moments at least once a week, allowing for co-creation. This enables the team to provide permanent insights in terms of progress and budget, scope changes and quality.