What a great topic to discuss! Love the videos so far, they are well done and engaging. Regarding ITIL and DevOps:

A1: When implementing methodologies in IT it is common to come across those that are opposed to change. Making it difficult to unify methods from different sources. In this case we have been working to adopt both methods to unify all of our departments. Whether that is the service desk, infrastructure, or development teams. Our goal for this is that the complement the business but as of now they maybe competing. 

A2: I don’t believe they are mutually exclusive as they incorporate a number of the same ways of thinking. Primary regarding automation and collaboration.

A3: As I mentioned in the first answer as an IT Organization we are working to implement both, but I as an individual focus mostly on the ITIL practices and how I can work to implement those across the organization.

Hope this helps and look forward to hearing from others as well!

Team ITIL feels that technology controls most of the authorizations that development and releases dictate. They argue that ITIL gives them more control.

This aspect of ‘control’ is what the DevOps squad is worried about. 

Going through too many CABs, for example, slows down deployment and negates the whole ‘fail fast and fix fast’ aesthetic. Continuous deployment gives developers and admins an edge

The underlying promise and lure of DevOps is speed. The advantage that continuous deployment gives developers and admins is significant. And in a world where ‘move fast & break things’ is like a Biblical reference, speed is not just important. It might mean the difference between a billion-dollar startup and a damp squib.

There is just one flaw in this argument: ITIL was never about control in the first place; it just started being used and referenced that way. If your ITIL processes are slowing your deployments and releases down, it’s your adoption that’s the problem, not the framework.

Q1. Do they compete or complement your business?

They should complement each other (but then people and their opinions potentially get in the way).

The latest ITSM best practice (ITIL 4) has brought in elements of DevOps based on it being better than what was previously recommended ITSM guidance (especially for change). However, we still have so much more to do to find and provide a better (two-way) balance though. Especially when many ITIL deriders still quote the ITIL of old (last updated in 2011) rather than the more recent version. 

Q3. Which of these two do you follow to achieve your business goals, and why?

I can’t answer this question as asked, only my own version in terms of what I write about. This does raise an important point though - be careful who you take guidance from. For example, I don’t right about DevOps because I’ve never had a DevOps-related role and reading a book on a topic doesn’t make you able to advise others on it. It’s something to be careful of when seeking help with DevOps, ITIL, or anything else.

Steve, great point. I have seen your example of “reading a book, now I am the Subject Matter Expert” mentality and it is detrimental. I try to make sure I a question the validity of the people I take advise and guidance from. And when we talk about “Guiding Principals” I sure hope others put in the due diligence necessary to gain insightful information from reputable resources.

Loved the video team!! Comprehensive & to-the-point.

Also, the topic makes much sense as we progress on the ever-rising DevOps practices. @rashmi.nag 

I like to raise my question to the forum: 

Is ITIL still relevant in a DevOps world?

Context: The IT world is markedly different from the last several decades. The emergence and proliferation of cloud-based technologies have introduced a slew of challenges around managing and securing more endpoints, devices, and services that ITIL framework developers couldn’t possibly have envisioned. 

Today’s IT doesn’t just play a supporting role. It’s an active, willing contributor to organizational success, the driving force behind the modern enterprise. 

Forward-thinking IT organizations have realized that empowering service and line-of-business owners with a management model aimed at first maintaining websites, apps, portals, and other customer touchpoints is the real key to gaining a strategic edge. 

Took a bite from this blog: https://www.itopstimes.com/itsm/is-itil-still-relevant-in-a-devops-world/

I still am learning about these methodologies, and I am really curios how organizations have taken from both and put into practice those ideas. How has it worked for you? 

I read a great book just last week from the DevOps world. It’s called “The Phoenix Project” and I can’t recommend it enough! It was informative, enlightening, and entertaining. Gave me a whole new look at the relationship between IT Operations and Development as both work to improve an organization’s value stream.

How can we put these practices into action? Let’s keep the conversation going on this topic. Would really like to hear more about it! What resources have you found useful?

Thanks!!

Re @zachary.king’s great book call out, there was a newer version written too: https://itrevolution.com/the-unicorn-project/ although I haven’t read this one.

Gene Kim is a great guy too :)

Who doesn’t like being bought coffee? ;)