The influence of technological development and intense competition in the marketplaces demands on the use of standardized working methods in the software industry. The speed to issue frequent software releases and flexibility for changes has led to DevOps. DevOps is a standardized work methodology that has been praised for allegedly providing several benefits. Despite this attention to the benefits, it is also important to explore potential challenges. The purpose of this study is to investigate and identify the challenges that arise when using standardized work methodologies through a case study of DevOps in a consulting organization.
The study deals with three research aspects: theoretical review, literature analysis and research interviews. The theoretical review is summarized in three categories: organizational culture, organizational learning and organizational management. Through the literature analysis, 13 primary challenges are identified based on previous empirical studies. Then, the actual process of implementing DevOps is summarized through interviews with seven respondents and compared to the challenges identified in the theoretical review and literature analysis. A thematic analysis is used to analyze the data. The clear challenges from the interviews were categorized into three main areas: 1) Culture, 2) Adaptation and 3) Organization.
The paper concludes that the challenges linked to the use of standardized work methodologies in a consultancy organization are complex and compound. Both positive and negative impacts were uncovered using standardized work methodologies. Faster feedback, improved quality of software releases was among the positive effects, while silo thinking, and reduced collaboration were among the negatives. Optimizing the use of standardized work methodologies can be challenging, especially if the training and understanding are not present. Moreover, it is important that management encourages employees to use these methodologies, as their support is essential. A careful understanding and treatment of these challenges is essential to reap the potential benefits that such methods are expected to provide
