Assessing Tools
Assessing Tools involves the systematic evaluation of new tools and technologies by enabling teams to determine their fit and utility within the organisation, based on the enabling team's experience and expertise.
Purpose
The purpose of this activity is to streamline the adoption of new tools by conducting thorough assessments, thus allowing Stream Teams to focus more on delivering customer value rather than tool evaluation.
- Efficient Tool Adoption: Streamlines the process of integrating new tools into the workflow.
- Reduced Redundancy: Prevents the duplication of effort in tool assessment across teams.
- Increased Productivity: Enables Stream Teams to concentrate on core development tasks.
Context
Industry Context
There is no shortage of tools and technologies available to support software development, ranging from project management platforms to code repositories and testing frameworks. The rapid pace of innovation in the tech industry means that new tools are constantly being introduced, each promising to improve efficiency, collaboration, or quality in some way. However, not all tools are created equal, and it can be challenging for teams to assess which ones are the best fit for their specific needs.
ZeroBlockers Context
The goal of an Enabling Team is to streamline the development process for Stream Teams. One way that they can achieve this is by evaluating new tools and technologies to determine their suitability for use within the organisation. By conducting these assessments centrally, Enabling Teams can ensure that Stream Teams have access to high-quality tools that meet their requirements without having to conduct separate evaluations.
Methods
| Method | Description | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluating Fit-for-Purpose | Assessing how well a tool aligns with the organisation's needs and goals. | Ensures a hands-on understanding and assessment of tool capabilities. |
| Monitoring Support and Maintenance | Evaluating the vendor's support and maintenance services, particularly useful for open-source tools. | Ensures that tools are well-supported and issues can be resolved promptly. |
| Negotiating Tool Licences | Negotiating licensing agreements with vendors to ensure cost-effectiveness and compliance. | Ensures that the organisation gets the best value for the tools it adopts. |
Anti-patterns
- Lack of Stakeholder Input: Failing to involve key users in the assessment process, which can lead to poor adoption.
- Over-Reliance on Vendor Claims: Relying too heavily on promotional material rather than actual tool performance and fit.
- Ignoring Integration Challenges: Focusing solely on individual tool capabilities without considering how they will integrate with existing systems and workflows.
- Cost Over Quality: Prioritising cost savings over the quality and suitability of the tool for the organisation's needs.
