This project originated from a request to discuss the application of DevOps at Cray. Part of my role involved addressing the question: What should DevOps look like at Cray, particularly for the teams I supported? This inquiry naturally expanded into a broader consideration: What should DevOps look like for any given project? As a multipotentialite, I was further intrigued by the possibility that the principles of DevOps, along with the continuous improvement methodologies that preceded and influenced the DevOps movement, could be applied beyond their traditional domains.
This project aims to examine the fundamental principles underlying DevOps and related methodologies, identifying the key factors that contribute to both success and failure. Additionally, it seeks to explore how these principles can be extended to other disciplines, fostering opportunities for cross-disciplinary learning. Through discussions with industry leaders and practitioners, the project endeavors to uncover insights and best practices that can drive continuous improvement. By analyzing both parallel and contrasting methodologies across diverse fields, the ultimate goal is to develop a more comprehensive, interdisciplinary understanding of productive cultures and effective practices.
The extent to which the concept of “everything” can be extended within this project remains an open question.
Historically, a set of groundbreaking ideas led to significant successes across several professional fields. Some of these ideas have since been adapted to more contemporary challenges, occasionally yielding transformative outcomes. It is possible that continuous improvement processes, along with their iterative refinements, could be applied recursively, further enhancing their efficacy.
The term “DevOps” in the project title is tentative. Today, DevOps primarily refers to modern cloud software development practices. Other terms such as Kaizen or Lean, commonly used in manufacturing and high technology, could be equally relevant. More broadly, this project aims to extend insights beyond these industries—even beyond the professional world itself. Furthermore, if analogous frameworks emerge in entirely different contexts, can engineering-oriented fields derive valuable lessons from them?
Many of the concepts explored in this project are not novel, yet they may require reconsideration from a different perspective. From everything to everything—how do we optimize processes, and what ultimately defines success?
This project involves extensive research, critical analysis, and in-depth discussions with professionals, alongside practical and experimental applications designed to test and refine these ideas.
DC - 2024???? - 20250327
Preliminary Brain Dump
A practical example to apply to many things
Campbell’s Law Applied to Everything (in five minutes)
Draft: Human Systems and Value Delivery