Define "Work"

DevOps and the way we work

We all know what work is

activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.

  • Planned

  • Managed

  • Ordered

  • Accounted

Division of Labour

  • Specialization
  • Standardization

Handoffs

  • Impedance mismatch
  • Failures
  • Queues, inventory

Exchange of goods, information

We invented
Management

  • Coordination
  • Resource and work allocation
  • Choosing goals
  • Planning
  • Responding to change
  • Hierarchy
  • Value predictability, efficiency
  • Lower variability, increase stability

Traditionally, Management valued

Doesn't actually fit

Our model of work

  • Management coordinates and directs
  • Workers execute
  • Work is planned, ordered and controlled

Work à-la Phoenix Project

  • Business Projects
  • IT Operations Projects
  • Changes
  • Unplanned Work

Splitting the atom

(can result in a big boom)

Arbitrary borders

Border control

Nine women can't deliver a baby in one month

Work is variable

Work must change over time

Profession

Feedback

Context matters

Conway's Law

Any organization that designs a system (defined broadly) will produce a design whose structure is a copy of the organization's communication structure.

Organizations must be adaptive

Understand work, or end up like this

Embrace the dynamic nature of work

  • Promote feedback and learning
  • Don't sanctify tools and practices

Organizational divisions are only a tool

Diversify your teams

Thank you

(you can bring out the torches now)

Define "Work"

By Avishai Ish-Shalom

Define "Work"

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