Reluctant change agent's guide

DevOps - The reluctant change agent's guide John Clapham, Nokia, Mix RadioFrustrated by myriad obstacles between your code and customers? Trying to improve efficiency and make the most of your team? Tired of how long it takes to get things done? Want to do something about it? Then like it or not, you're a change agent. Whether you're a lone voice or have business sponsorship, bringing about change isn't about spewing buzzwords; the art is to be effective, without getting fired. This talk is a plain speaking guide to bringing change, drawing on practical experiences from DevOps adoption.

“DevOps – The Reluctant Change Agent’s Guide”

@johnC_Bristol - @NokiaMixRadio

So, what is a change agent?

“Change agents are the type of people who haven't any marketable skills….”

“Anyone can go around complaining about things being a professional cry baby…”

“…I know as a former change agent.”

I don’t mean them.

Or them…

It’s you.

It’s you, someone trying to make a difference.

In 2010 we formed a team to encourage change…

Things are finealready.

That won’t work

Things are finealready.

That won’t work

Wasting my team’s time

Things are finealready.

You should be building features

That won’t work

Wasting my team’s time

Things are finealready.

You should be building features

That won’t work

Wasting my team’s time

Things are finealready.

Let’s delay until we’ve finished XYZ

"They are in front of us, behind us, and we are flanked on both sides by an enemy that outnumbers us 29:1.”

"They can't get away from us now!"

What next?

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Culture

“Culture is the sum of individual’sbehaviours”

Like Othello, those individual behaviours can flip…

Encouraging Change…

If you only do one thing…

If you only do one thing……be a rolemodel

Is the rate of change too much, or too little?

David Viney - J Curve Effect observed in change.

(Except this bit)

David Viney - J Curve Effect observed in change.

Where we want to be

Appetite for risk determines comfort in this area

Swan Song for Previous practice

Influencers - seldom who you’d expect.

Dissent is valuable.

Create feedback loops

Please Don’t

Change Anything!

Be a polyglot - speak their language

Share when you succeed…

…and fail

…and what of the future?

Old behaviours return to haunt you…

Small negative changes bring fearthat we’re returning here

If change does gain traction, it doesn’t get any easier…

First the people break,then the tools break,the governance process breaks,the customer breaks,financial controls break,finally, the organisation structure breaks.

- Richard Durnall

Reflections…

Change does not always require a change program.

Change can be driven by individuals.

Change is a little easier if you understand it.

Activities that build trust are crucial.

The Five P’s might help.

1. Promotion – Be inclusive, share successes, and what was learned in failure.

1. Promotion – Be inclusive, share successes, and what was learned in failure.

2. Planning – Think about areas for change, and the approach to each.

1. Promotion – Be inclusive, share successes, and what was learned in failure.

2. Planning – Think about areas for change, and the approach to each.

3. Perseverance – Keep trying, it’s unlikely to work first time.

1. Promotion – Be inclusive, share successes, and what was learned in failure.

2. Planning – Think about areas for change, and the approach to each.

3. Perseverance – Keep trying, it’s unlikely to work first time.

4. Patience – Listen, choose the moment.

1. Promotion – Be inclusive, share successes, and what was learned in failure.

2. Planning – Think about areas for change, and the approach to each.

3. Perseverance – Keep trying, it’s unlikely to work first time.

4. Patience – Listen, choose the moment.5. Pizza – The second best way to

encourage feedback.

So…what is it you think you can’t do?

Thanks!

@johnC_Bristol

Further reading…Richard Durnall – Agile Adoption Patterns (First the people break…)http://www.richarddurnall.com/?p=57

David Viney, J Curve (Book) – “The Intranet Portal Guide: How to Make the Business Case for a Corporate Portal, Then Successfully Deliver”

Kanban (Book) “Successful Evolutionary Change for Your Technology Business”

Story of DevOps and Continuous Delivery at Nokia Entertainmenthttp://www.infoq.com/articles/monthly-devops-01-nokia

Mix Radio Developers Blog:http://dev.mixrad.io/blog

MixRadio, a fine way to discover music:http://www.mixrad.io/gb/en

My blog:http://johnclapham.wordpress.com/

Picture CreditsAngry stick manhttp://justien16.deviantart.com/art/angry-stick-man-180591143

Othello Boardshttp://othelloacademy.blogspot.com/

Change Alleyhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/londonmatt/3163571645/sizes/o/

Polygotshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/magdalar/2950663799/

Whisky Barrelshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/uk_pictures/3483034558/