More Buzzwords Won't Help - The Long History of DevOps Failures

Explore the long history of DevOps failures in this thought-provoking conference talk from GOTO Chicago 2023. Delve into sociotechnical system theory and its origins in 1950s British coal mining, examining how investments in automation often failed to increase productivity while decreasing safety and morale. Learn how cross-functional teams aligned with technology investments proved more effective, and discover why these fundamental lessons are repeatedly forgotten and relearned across generations. Gain valuable insights into work design's impact on organizational performance, focusing on the complex challenges of modern software delivery. Through a whimsical chronicle spanning from 1950s coal mining to today's serverless platforms, understand the recurring patterns in DevOps failures and the importance of balancing social and technical factors for optimal organizational performance.

More Buzzwords Won't Help: The Long History of DevOps Failures • Andrew Clay Shafer • GOTO 2023