DevOps is different in that it operates on the system level. It encourages collaboration and rejects metrics that focus on the small scale. Because of this, some steps may take slightly longer, but benefit the entire pipeline by facilitating progress. The way steps flow operates more efficiently, so the product reaches customers more quickly overall. However, this only works if development and operations work together, rather than compete. A core element of DevOps is a culture of collaboration, which breaks down the silos and allows each step of the pipeline to do what is best for the product as a whole.
When both areas work together, the feedback loops also shorten. There is less overhead involved in incorporating changes from later steps in the process. With less overhead, each step can adapt and shift more easily. Faster reactions keep the product more in line with what consumers need. With modern software products such as cloud services and mobile applications changing so suddenly, it is vital that a software development organization be quick to incorporate changes. DevOps allows organizations to react and continue productivity with little wasted time.
Business Value of DevOps
Since DevOps improves the efficiency of the development pipeline, it has clear business value. Development and operations spend less time on a request before it reaches the customer. Because each request takes less time to complete, this allows teams more time to spend on other requests and endeavors. Ultimately, this increases the throughput of new products and features, which creates a better revenue stream for the organization.
Beyond increasing the throughput of products and features, the shortened feedback loops of DevOps typically results in fewer errors, and faster resolution to errors that the teams do encounter. Since DevOps focuses on the system level, it ensures that the entire organization is moving in the same direction, with the same common goals. This shared vision results in teams that are more efficient, more productive, and more profitable for the company.
Scaling Developer Productivity with DevOps
Another benefit of operating at the system level and handling different pipelines as individual entities, DevOps is great for scaling developer productivity. Organizations can open and close pipelines as necessary to increase or decrease the production of new features. If the organization wants to create a new product or increase the rate of new features, they can add a new pipeline that will operate more or less independently from the existing pipelines. In the opposite direction, if an organization needs to reduce production, they can remove a pipeline and redistribute teams and resources elsewhere. DevOps is adaptable, and can be as large or as small as an organization needs, without any decrease in efficiency. Part of what makes DevOps so attractive is its ability to grow with an organization.