Collaboration and communication
In an ideal DevOps team, the whole team works in the same way and toward the same goal – there should be a shared responsibility for the successful delivery of changes. Fundamental to this collaborative approach is strong communication, and this can take many forms, from the more formal approach needed for governance of the overall change management process down to the daily interactions that form part of your usual workflow.
Communication should be clear, informative, and present at every step of the delivery life cycle. For example, when using version control, teams should endeavor to always provide meaningful commit messages and comments on peer reviews. These aid teams to carry out the next steps of any change delivery process with context, not just the specifics of the change itself. There is often a balance needed between providing sufficiently detailed information and relevant information, and you should iterate on this level of detail to find the sweet spot that works for you and your team.
While this book is not an exploration of Agile principles, there does seem to be a strong correlation between successful DevOps teams and Agile practitioners since both disciplines foster these same principles of regular, clear, and concise communication to drive projects forward. Such techniques encompass all team members involved in delivering change so that everyone is informed and aware of the process and progress of work.
Equally, tools will help bring visibility and clarity to daily work. Software for managing features as they go through your DevOps process, such as Jira, Asana, Azure DevOps, and so on, can bring this overview to your processes when used properly and they integrate in some way into most DevOps tools to complete the picture. Many teams have started to eschew email as an internal communication medium, instead favoring the immediacy of messaging platforms such as Slack or Teams as a further means of breaking down siloes and removing barriers between cross-functional teams.
The necessity of adapting to remote work has led to an increased reliance on digital communication tools and has changed the dynamics of team interaction in a number of ways. With teams distributed across various locations and time zones, it is essential to have tools that enable real-time collaboration and offer instant communication, file-sharing, and integration with other tools. In remote work, it is not always possible to gather everyone at the same time for discussions. Asynchronous communication tools, such as project management platforms, shared documents, and threaded discussions on messaging apps, allow team members to contribute at their convenience and keep everyone informed of progress.
With every adaptation that needs to be made with the shift to remote working, balance is key. With the shift to digital communication, remote workers may face an influx of messages and notifications. Messaging platforms have adapted by offering features such as channels, threads, and snooze options, allowing team members to prioritize and manage their communications effectively. However, it is equally important to maintain a sense of connection and engagement between team members. Messaging platforms facilitate informal interactions, such as virtual water-cooler conversations, quick check-ins, and social activities, helping teams stay connected and fostering a positive team culture.
Remote work has made it necessary for teams to communicate effectively without the context provided by face-to-face interactions. Modern methods of communication for distributed teams encourage team members to be more concise and clear in their communications, as well as more intentional with their responses.
Finally, as remote work relies on digital communication tools, ensuring data security and compliance with industry regulations becomes critical. Technological solutions have responded by offering end-to-end encryption, data storage options, and compliance features tailored to different industries.
