Development of an Alignment Model for the Implementation of DevOps in SMEs: An Exploratory Study

An evolving set of skills that enable DevOps practice adoption in software-intensive Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) contexts has emerged over the last decade intending to achieve a change in mentality, skillset, and toolset. This research examines an unexplored aspect of DevOps: business...

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Main Authors: Mohamed B. Fathima Sanjeetha, Ghassan Ahmed Ali, Samsudeen Sabraz Nawaz, Abdulkarem H. M. Almawgani, Yahya Ali Abdelrahman Ali
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2023-01-01
Series:IEEE Access
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10363178/
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author Mohamed B. Fathima Sanjeetha
Ghassan Ahmed Ali
Samsudeen Sabraz Nawaz
Abdulkarem H. M. Almawgani
Yahya Ali Abdelrahman Ali
author_facet Mohamed B. Fathima Sanjeetha
Ghassan Ahmed Ali
Samsudeen Sabraz Nawaz
Abdulkarem H. M. Almawgani
Yahya Ali Abdelrahman Ali
author_sort Mohamed B. Fathima Sanjeetha
collection DOAJ
description An evolving set of skills that enable DevOps practice adoption in software-intensive Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) contexts has emerged over the last decade intending to achieve a change in mentality, skillset, and toolset. This research examines an unexplored aspect of DevOps: business and IT alignment. Despite the widespread use of DevOps principles, very few research have investigated their interrelationships with existing theories. This study presents a novel perspective by including control variables such as firm size, background, and experience within the specific setting of Sri Lanka. The current body of literature extensively examines the practical elements associated with the adoption of DevOps, the development of skills, and the implementation of tools. However, there is a notable deficiency in comprehending the intersection between these fundamental DevOps principles and factors such as company size, individual backgrounds, and diverse experience levels. The primary objective of this study is to address the existing gap in knowledge by conducting a comprehensive investigation of the influence of firm size, background, and experience on the level of alignment between business and IT functions within SMEs in Sri Lanka that have adopted DevOps practices. First, 248 people participated in a survey conducted as exploratory research. The DevOps IT alignment was tested using partial least squares structural equation modelling. Moreover, it supports the creation of a reliable and credible DevOps instrument for scientific research. DevOps is promoted in SMEs to facilitate continuous information and software communication integration across IT departments. DevOps also has a beneficial effect on business-IT alignment. Greater business IT alignment is achieved via improved information exchange and continuous application integration at enterprises that foster DevOps. IT leaders must determine how to strengthen ties across departments that rely on radically different skill sets.
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spelling doaj.art-a5513e9b2b5a491cb9b0bed09784e87f2023-12-26T00:07:07ZengIEEEIEEE Access2169-35362023-01-011114421314422510.1109/ACCESS.2023.334404010363178Development of an Alignment Model for the Implementation of DevOps in SMEs: An Exploratory StudyMohamed B. Fathima Sanjeetha0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9310-8261Ghassan Ahmed Ali1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7540-2336Samsudeen Sabraz Nawaz2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3770-1401Abdulkarem H. M. Almawgani3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0697-6103Yahya Ali Abdelrahman Ali4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5083-4391Department of MIT, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Oluvil, Sri LankaFaculty of Islamic Technology, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali, Bandar Seri Begawan, BruneiDepartment of MIT, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Oluvil, Sri LankaElectrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Najran University, Najran, Saudi ArabiaInformation Systems Department, College of Computer Sciences and Information Systems, Najran University, Najran, Saudi ArabiaAn evolving set of skills that enable DevOps practice adoption in software-intensive Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) contexts has emerged over the last decade intending to achieve a change in mentality, skillset, and toolset. This research examines an unexplored aspect of DevOps: business and IT alignment. Despite the widespread use of DevOps principles, very few research have investigated their interrelationships with existing theories. This study presents a novel perspective by including control variables such as firm size, background, and experience within the specific setting of Sri Lanka. The current body of literature extensively examines the practical elements associated with the adoption of DevOps, the development of skills, and the implementation of tools. However, there is a notable deficiency in comprehending the intersection between these fundamental DevOps principles and factors such as company size, individual backgrounds, and diverse experience levels. The primary objective of this study is to address the existing gap in knowledge by conducting a comprehensive investigation of the influence of firm size, background, and experience on the level of alignment between business and IT functions within SMEs in Sri Lanka that have adopted DevOps practices. First, 248 people participated in a survey conducted as exploratory research. The DevOps IT alignment was tested using partial least squares structural equation modelling. Moreover, it supports the creation of a reliable and credible DevOps instrument for scientific research. DevOps is promoted in SMEs to facilitate continuous information and software communication integration across IT departments. DevOps also has a beneficial effect on business-IT alignment. Greater business IT alignment is achieved via improved information exchange and continuous application integration at enterprises that foster DevOps. IT leaders must determine how to strengthen ties across departments that rely on radically different skill sets.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10363178/DevOpsalignment modelknowledge sharingcontinuous integrationstrategic IT alignmentstrategic subunit alignment
spellingShingle Mohamed B. Fathima Sanjeetha
Ghassan Ahmed Ali
Samsudeen Sabraz Nawaz
Abdulkarem H. M. Almawgani
Yahya Ali Abdelrahman Ali
Development of an Alignment Model for the Implementation of DevOps in SMEs: An Exploratory Study
IEEE Access
DevOps
alignment model
knowledge sharing
continuous integration
strategic IT alignment
strategic subunit alignment
title Development of an Alignment Model for the Implementation of DevOps in SMEs: An Exploratory Study
title_full Development of an Alignment Model for the Implementation of DevOps in SMEs: An Exploratory Study
title_fullStr Development of an Alignment Model for the Implementation of DevOps in SMEs: An Exploratory Study
title_full_unstemmed Development of an Alignment Model for the Implementation of DevOps in SMEs: An Exploratory Study
title_short Development of an Alignment Model for the Implementation of DevOps in SMEs: An Exploratory Study
title_sort development of an alignment model for the implementation of devops in smes an exploratory study
topic DevOps
alignment model
knowledge sharing
continuous integration
strategic IT alignment
strategic subunit alignment
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10363178/
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