Flashcards
What are the two speed metrics in the DORA framework?
Lead time for changes and deployment frequency
What are the two stability metrics in the DORA framework?
Mean time to restore (MTTR) and change fail rate
What is the main message of the DORA metrics regarding speed and stability?
Speed and stability move together; faster delivery leads to more stability because smaller, more frequent changes are easier to manage and debug.
What is the DORA metric for deployment frequency for elite performers?
Deploy on demand
What is the lead time for changes for elite performers according to DORA?
Less than a day
What is the mean time to restore for elite performers according to DORA?
Less than an hour
What is the change fail rate for elite performers according to DORA?
Less than an hour
Between 0 and 15%
What does SPACE stand for in the SPACE framework?
Satisfaction, Performance, Activity, Communication & Collaboration, Efficiency & Flow
What are the two dimensions of the SPACE framework that DORA focuses on?
Speed and stability, which are captured under Performance and Efficiency & Flow
Why is it important to balance metrics when measuring developer productivity?
Focusing on one dimension, like speed, can lead to issues like burnout or instability. Balance ensures that improvements in one area don’t negatively affect other areas.
What are common pitfalls when trying to improve developer productivity?
Lack of clarity in goals, not balancing different productivity dimensions, not engaging both leadership and developers in the process, and not providing time to implement changes.
What does “reducing friction” in the developer experience context refer to?
It could mean reducing tool friction, process friction, or cultural friction, and it’s important to clearly define what type of friction is being addressed.
What should be prioritized after defining the goal in developer productivity?
Choosing balanced metrics that measure the right things and ensure progress toward the defined goal.
How does SPACE framework help when improving productivity?
SPACE helps select appropriate metrics for complex creative work like developer productivity, ensuring balance across satisfaction, collaboration, efficiency, and performance.
What is the key difference between DORA and SPACE frameworks?
DORA focuses on software delivery performance (speed and stability), while SPACE covers a broader range of productivity factors like satisfaction, collaboration, and well-being.
What kind of feedback is critical to gather when improving developer productivity?
Regular feedback from developers through surveys, one-on-ones, and informal conversations to understand how they feel about tools, processes, and overall productivity.
What should be avoided when setting metrics for productivity?
Avoid focusing only on activity metrics like the number of pull requests or commits. Instead, use metrics that balance productivity dimensions and capture the real impact on work.
Why is satisfaction important in measuring developer productivity?
Satisfaction is highly correlated with other productivity dimensions, and a drop in satisfaction often signals issues in other areas like sustainability and well-being.
How can you measure developer satisfaction periodically?
Through surveys conducted every few months to capture developers’ feedback on their experience with tools, processes, and overall well-being.
What is a critical step to take after setting clear goals in developer productivity?
Ensuring that the team is aligned and understands the goal, the metrics chosen, and the strategy to achieve it.
What do technical capabilities in DevOps include?
Practices like automated testing, continuous integration, continuous deployment, and trunk-based development, all aimed at improving delivery speed and stability.
What architectural capabilities support DevOps success?
Loosely coupled systems, cloud infrastructure, and underlying architectural decisions that enable efficient and scalable delivery.
How can SPACE framework improve incident management?
By using metrics from SPACE, such as communication and collaboration, and efficiency and flow, teams can optimize their incident management processes and reduce downtime.
What should companies do when there is a disagreement between system data and developer surveys?
Trust the survey data as it often reveals critical insights that system data might miss, such as hidden pain points or inefficiencies in processes.
Why is it important to engage both leadership and developers in the productivity improvement process?
Leadership sets priorities, but developers are directly impacted by changes. Engaging both ensures alignment and that practical, impactful changes are made.
What kind of environment encourages better feedback during productivity improvements?
A culture where feedback is encouraged and people feel comfortable raising concerns or offering suggestions without fear of negative consequences.
What is the key difference between Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma?
Six Sigma focuses on reducing variation and improving quality through statistical analysis, while Lean Six Sigma combines Lean???s emphasis on eliminating waste with Six Sigma???s focus on minimizing defects. Lean Six Sigma seeks to streamline processes, reduce waste, and enhance both speed and quality.
What is the main methodology used in Six Sigma?
Six Sigma uses the DMAIC framework, which stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. This structured, data-driven approach is used to improve process efficiency and eliminate defects.
What are the primary tools used in Six Sigma?
Six Sigma primarily employs statistical tools, including root cause analysis, control charts, and process mapping, to analyze and improve processes and reduce variation.
What does Lean Six Sigma emphasize in its methodology?
Lean Six Sigma emphasizes both waste elimination (from Lean principles) and defect reduction (from Six Sigma). It uses tools like value stream mapping, 5S, Kaizen, alongside the Six Sigma DMAIC framework.
What are the key objectives of Six Sigma?
Six Sigma aims to achieve near-perfect quality by reducing defects to no more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities (DPMO).
What are the key objectives of Lean Six Sigma?
Lean Six Sigma aims to improve process efficiency by eliminating waste, reducing costs, enhancing flow, and maintaining high-quality standards.
What are the Lean Six Sigma belt levels in order of progression?
“1. White Belt
2. Yellow Belt
3. Green Belt
4. Black Belt
5. Master Black Belt
6. Champion”
What is the role of a White Belt in Lean Six Sigma?
A White Belt has a basic understanding of Lean Six Sigma concepts and assists with change management in an organization.
How long does it take to get White Belt certified in Lean Six Sigma?
White Belt certification typically takes a few hours to one day, depending on the program.
What is the role of a Yellow Belt in Lean Six Sigma?
A Yellow Belt works as a team member in Lean Six Sigma projects or leads small-scale process improvement efforts, familiar with basic tools and the DMAIC framework.
How long does it take to get Yellow Belt certified in Lean Six Sigma?
Yellow Belt certification usually takes 1-3 weeks (10-20 hours of coursework).
What is the role of a Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma?
A Green Belt leads smaller Lean Six Sigma projects and supports Black Belts in larger initiatives, with a deeper understanding of the DMAIC methodology and Lean tools.
How long does it take to get Green Belt certified in Lean Six Sigma?
Green Belt certification typically takes 2-6 months, depending on the program (40-100 hours of coursework, including exams and project work).
What is the role of a Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma?
A Black Belt leads complex projects, mentors Green Belts, drives change within an organization, and is an expert in Six Sigma tools and Lean principles.
How long does it take to get Black Belt certified in Lean Six Sigma?
Black Belt certification usually takes 4-8 months, depending on the program (100-150 hours of coursework, exam, and completion of a project).
What is the role of a Master Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma?
A Master Black Belt coaches Black Belts, leads enterprise-wide projects, and is responsible for Lean Six Sigma strategy at a corporate level. They train and mentor others and ensure alignment with the organization’s strategic goals.
How long does it take to get certified as a Master Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma?
Master Black Belt certification typically requires 1-2 years of experience as a Black Belt, plus additional coursework (up to 200 hours) and demonstrated project leadership.
What is the role of a Champion in Lean Six Sigma?
A Champion sponsors Lean Six Sigma initiatives, ensures alignment with organizational goals, and supports Black Belts by removing roadblocks and ensuring resources are available for project success.
What is the DMAIC framework in Six Sigma?
DMAIC stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control. It is a structured approach used to improve processes by identifying and addressing the root causes of defects.
What does the Lean methodology focus on in Lean Six Sigma?
Lean methodology focuses on eliminating waste, reducing non-value-added activities, and improving process flow to enhance speed and efficiency.
What is the definition of Value in Lean?
Value is any action or process that the customer is willing to pay for.
What are the 5 principles of Lean?
Value, Value Stream, Flow, Pull, Perfection.
What are the 7 types of waste in Lean (TIMWOOD)?
Transportation, Inventory, Motion, Waiting, Over-processing, Over-production, Defects.
What is Value Stream in Lean?
The entire sequence of activities required to bring a product or service from conception to delivery.
How do you improve Flow in Lean?
Ensure that work-in-progress moves consistently from one step to the next without delays or interruptions.
What is the Pull principle in Lean?
Products should be produced based on actual customer demand rather than forecasted demand.
What is Perfection in Lean?
Continuously strive for the ideal process by eliminating waste and improving quality.
What is Process Mapping?
A visual representation of the steps in a process, used to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
What are the steps to create a Flowchart?
- List out steps, 2. Assign responsibilities, 3. Draw the flowchart, 4. Identify bottlenecks.
What is Value Stream Mapping (VSM)?
A tool to analyze the current process from start to finish, focusing on value-added and non-value-added activities.
What are the steps to create a Value Stream Map?
- Identify the process, 2. Draw the value stream, 3. Identify waste, 4. Create an action plan.
What is Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN)?
A standardized way to visually depict complex business processes using symbols like rectangles for tasks and diamonds for decision points.
What are the steps to create a BPMN diagram?
- Choose a BPMN tool, 2. Identify process elements, 3. Model the process, 4. Optimize.
What is Defects Per Million Opportunities (DPMO)?
A metric used in Six Sigma to measure the defect rate per million opportunities.
How do you calculate DPMO?
DPMO = (Number of Defects / Opportunities for Defects ?? Total Units) ?? 1,000,000.
What is Cycle Time?
The total time it takes to complete a process from start to finish.
What are the steps to reduce Cycle Time?
- Map the process, 2. Measure current cycle time, 3. Identify delays, 4. Eliminate non-value-added steps, 5. Measure improvements.
What is Overall Process Efficiency (OEE)?
A metric used in manufacturing to measure how efficiently a production line is operating.
What are the steps to calculate OEE?
- Measure Availability, 2. Measure Performance, 3. Measure Quality, 4. Calculate OEE.
What is the role of a Business Process Manager (BPM)?
A BPM owns process improvements, manages change initiatives, and monitors continuous improvement KPIs.
What are the responsibilities of a Business Process Manager?
- Own process improvements, 2. Manage change, 3. Monitor and report performance.
What is waste in Lean?
Any activity that does not add value to the customer.
What are examples of waste in Lean?
Overproduction, waiting, motion, defects, inventory, over-processing, and transportation.
How do you identify waste in a process?
- Map the process, 2. Observe the process, 3. Classify waste using TIMWOOD, 4. Propose solutions to reduce waste.
What is the DORA (DevOps Research and Assessment) Framework?
The DORA Framework measures software delivery performance across four key metrics: Deployment Frequency, Lead Time for Changes, Mean Time to Restore (MTTR), and Change Failure Rate. These metrics assess speed and stability in software delivery processes.
What is the SPACE framework, and how does it differ from DORA?
The SPACE framework measures both technical and human aspects of productivity, covering Satisfaction and Well-being, Performance, Activity, Collaboration and Communication, and Efficiency and Flow. Unlike DORA, it includes broader human factors like collaboration and well-being.
MTTR measures the time taken to restore services after a failure in production. It is crucial for understanding how quickly the team can recover from incidents. Goal: Restore service within 1 hour for elite teams.
What is the Change Failure Rate in the DORA framework, and how is it measured?
Change Failure Rate is the percentage of deployments that lead to failures requiring remediation (e.g., rollbacks or hotfixes). Goal: Elite teams aim for a failure rate between 0-15%.
