Common Misconceptions about Agile and DevOps

Agile adopts an iterative approach toward project management and software development. Thus, it enables teams to provide value to their clients more quickly and with fewer challenges.

The work produced by an Agile team is more manageable as it divides the work into a list of smaller and achievable targets that result in a smoother flow of the assigned work.

On the other hand, organizations incorporate DevOps to unify the processes they could automate for better performance and outcome. DevOps is the combination of equipment and strategies that would optimally equip the organization to provide service and delivery.

Despite the clear difference, organizations often confuse the usability and application of Agile and DevOps. The article aims to answer the question of what is a common misconception about Agile and DevOps and highlight the difference between these two.

Table of Content

Common Misconceptions About Agile and DevOps

It is clear that Agile and DevOps have quite different focus points and ideologies. Some misconceptions associated with them are:

Misconception 1: Agile And DevOps Are Synonymous

The first and foremost misconception associated with Agile and DevOps is that they are synonyms, and one can use them interchangeably.

Agile and DevOps have the same fundamental aim: to make the business operation smoother and yield better results. But they cannot be considered synonyms.

Agile is an operational methodology that divides complex tasks into smaller doable proportions and assigns these tasks to different employees. The business asks the employees who perform these tasks to do so in a specified time frame.

Doing so can enable companies to supervise the business process closely and rectify trouble areas in time.

On the other hand, DevOps is an ideology that maintains the importance of teamwork and transparent communication between different teams of the company.

Misconception 2: Strategic investments in Agile and DevOps can fuel business growth

The second common misconception associated with Agile and DevOps is that just by purchasing both technologies, the organisation's overall business operations would significantly improve. But this belief is not the truth.

The firm can undoubtedly achieve the Agile framework by purchasing the software tools. However, the company can reap its complete benefit only when it undergoes a structural change in its policies relating to employee training, product designing, and transparent communication.

Similarly, to obtain maximum advantage of the DevOps methodology, the employees should be aware of the importance of teamwork and collaboration.

The companies would have to work towards developing better practices that would help in the better implementation of these technologies.

Misconception 3: DevOps technology as a replacement for Agile methodology

The third misconception associated with Agile and DevOps is that businesses can implement DevOps technology as a replacement for Agile methodology. But again, this assumption is quite far from the truth.

Both these methodologies have similar end goals: to provide quality value addition to the existing business operations of the organization. Companies should understand that only the application of these technologies is different from each other; it does not imply that they would be successful if used in isolation.

Agile and DevOps have separate focal points and a difference in how firms must implement them. The companies need to integrate Agile and DevOps together to achieve their desired goal. They should not regard both these technologies as a replacement for one another.

On the contrary, they are co-dependent on each other. The companies cannot aim to compete in the market if they consider investing in only one of the technology.

Definition of DevOps

DevOps doesn't have a strict definition, but you can think of it as a set of processes that bring together development and operations teams. This collaboration makes the process of creating code smoother and more efficient. The word "DevOps" itself comes from combining "development" and "operations." This teamwork speeds up how quickly companies can deliver their services and products. Thanks to DevOps, companies are creating top-notch products, and more people are using them.

Definition of Agile

Agile is a set of guidelines used in project management and software development to help the teams perform better. The tasks or features are worked upon one by one which helps the team to react to changes quickly and adapt. The Agile Manifesto laid down the principles which need to be followed in any agile project. Let us discuss some of the primary aspects of Agile:

Discussion among the team when any sudden changes come.
The team got to discuss openly what worked for the team and what did not.
Teams can successfully allocate their tasks and plan a sprint as it is a self-organizing team.

Also Read: How to Crack DevOps Interview?

Understanding the Key Differences between Agile and DevOps

Often there’s a debate on whether Agile and DevOps are the same. The simple answer is no but there’s no denying that there are some similarities between them but how they work is entirely different.

Let us see the parameters on which the difference lies:

Key Difference	DevOps	Agile
Communication	DevOps focuses on bringing the operational and development team together	In Agile we are expected to get continuous and progressive reports of how the work is going on.
Methodology	In DevOps communication specs and design documents are shared throughout.	The methods to adopt Agile methodology is Scrum
Documentation	DevOps transfers the program to the operational team which requires documentation to keep track of the process and make the delivery easy.	The functioning of Agile requires minimal documentation as most of the focus is on being adaptable and reactive.
Specialization	DevOps's role is to deploy the software for launch in a secure environment.	Agile plays an important role in the development of the product and it is not concerned after the product is made.

Can Agile and DevOps Coexist?

Both of the processes are used for completely different purposes: one is used for development other is used for deployment. Agile and DevOps can bring multiple benefits to the company’s growth when they not only coexist but also get applied properly.

Much easier to process the release
Enhances the collaboration among teams
Reduced dangers with every release
Bugs can be easily fixed
Higher level of client satisfaction
Higher-quality products

Conclusion

Companies must equip themselves with technologies that enable them to face their competitors confidently. The employees also need to invest in courses and programs like Scrum Master Certification and DevOps Certification that help them upskill and make them ready to tackle the increasing professional demands.

Organizations need to understand that although both Agile and DevOps are essential for better development and performance of the software, they are based on different ideologies and follow different methodologies. Both these technologies are co-dependent on each other and should be collaborated for better results.

The article highlights some common misconceptions about these technologies due to which some businesses may not achieve the maximum benefits of these methodologies. Therefore, one should conduct adequate research before implementing Agile and DevOps.

The market competition is increasing daily, and companies are adopting these technologies to stay ahead of their competitors. Due to this, companies expect employees to look for resources to update and upskill themselves.

These certifications are ideal for working professionals who wish to upskill themselves or even students who have just started their professional journey. They would benefit from these certifications.

So don't hesitate, upskill with StarAgile today!

FAQs

1. What is the major misconception about DevOps and Agile?

One of the most common misconceptions about DevOps and Agile is that they cannot be merged which is entirely wrong.

2. What is common about Agile and DevOps?

Agile promotes ongoing development and innovation to produce better software on schedule and DevOps also uses innovations to shorten the time to market.

3. How are Agile and DevOps interrelated?

Both of the methodologies help in improving team productivity and their combination can improve business success.

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