Balancing Agility and Accuracy:
The Importance of Processes and Validation in IT Deployments
Recently we approached the launch of a project we have been working on for months. The last two weeks before deployment our team was working under intense pressure and tight deadlines, a situation we half-jokingly referred to as “working too agile.” This meant some of our usual processes, like creating detailed tickets and prioritizing tasks methodically, were being overlooked in the rush to the go live date.
Despite the urgency, we made a crucial decision to not skip an essential step: validating our work before final deployment. Instead of deploying directly to the production environment, we initiated the pipeline a day earlier to check for any errors or missing components. This pre-deployment validation is crucial—it acts as a final quality check to ensure everything functions as expected.
During validation, we discovered an error—a missing field that was supposed to be part of the deployment. Discovering this error before going live was a good thing; it allowed us to address the issue with time on our side. I added the missing field to our branch, re-ran the validation, and, to our relief, the pipeline ran successfully without any further issues.
Imagine if we had not conducted this validation and had multiple, more complex errors or issues not as simple as adding a missing field. Such errors could have significantly delayed our deployment, potentially leading to frustrations and a panic rush to resolve these issues under even tighter time constraints. The consequences could extend beyond mere project delays, affecting stakeholder confidence and customer satisfaction.
This experience reinforced a vital lesson for me: the importance of validating before deploying. Validation serves as a crucial checkpoint to catch and correct errors that could disrupt service or functionality if undetected until after going live. Skipping this step is a risky shortcut that can lead to more significant setbacks than the time it saves.
Shouldn’t We Just Follow the Process?
You might be thinking, “This wouldn’t have happened if you just followed the process,” and you’re absolutely right. This incident drives home why it’s crucial to stick to established procedures, especially under pressure. Normally, these processes are designed to catch issues like the missing field, ensuring every step is documented and every change is tracked to prevent oversights.
Even though I strongly advocate for documenting every step, I found myself overwhelmed by urgent tasks. This oversight shows that deviating from standard processes, especially under stress, makes us more likely to make mistakes. Important details can be forgotten amidst handling multiple responsibilities, leading to avoidable errors.
Sticking to our processes, even under pressure, protects the integrity of our work. Methodical documentation and procedures are more than just formalities; they’re a shield against the chaos of urgent deadlines and complex tasks. They make sure that in the rush to meet tight deadlines, nothing important gets missed.
Lesson learned
This lesson was a strong reminder of just how vital our processes and validation steps are. Looking ahead, it’s clear that following these procedures and ensuring thorough validation before deployment are not just about compliance—they are crucial for the success and reliability of our projects. Maintaining these practices, even when under stress, is essential to avoid mistakes and ensure everything goes smoothly. This commitment to both adherence to process and rigorous validation helps prevent problems and guarantees that our projects are executed flawlessly.
So, let’s remember, being ‘too agile’ might get you there faster, but without the right processes, you might just sprint into a wall!
