Evaluating Fit-for-Purpose
Evaluating Fit-for-Purpose involves assessing whether tools or products meet the specific operational needs of the organisation, based on actual performance rather than solely on vendor specifications or claims.
Goal
The goal is to ensure that all tools and products used within the organisation effectively meet the intended purpose, enhancing efficiency and reliability of operations. In addition, there is a need to limit the proliferation and duplication of tools to keep the toolset and costs manageable.
Context
Because each Stream Team is autonomous they can choose the tools that they use. However, there are myriad tools available in the market, each claiming to be the best solution for a particular problem. The actual performance of these tools may not always align with their marketing claims. By evaluating tools for fit-for-purpose, Enabling Teams can help Stream Teams make informed decisions about which tools to use based on real-world testing and analysis.
Stream Teams can still decide to use other tools but the goal is for Enabling Teams to provide enough value in the tools that they recommend that Stream Teams will choose to use them.
Inputs
| Artifact | Description |
|---|---|
| Product Vision | A clear understanding of the end customer needs and requirements that the product must meet. |
| Process Vision | A clear understanding of the operational needs and requirements that the tools must meet. |
| Architectural Decision Records | The design of the system because that will determine the requirements of the tools. |
Outputs
| Artifact | Description | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Tool Recommendations | A list of tools recommended by the Enabling Teams, including open-source products and commercial tools. |
Anti-patterns
- Over-reliance on Vendor Information: Relying too heavily on vendor-supplied data without conducting independent tests.
- Inadequate Testing Scenarios: Testing tools in scenarios that do not reflect real usage, leading to misleading conclusions about their suitability.
- Ignoring User Feedback: Not incorporating feedback from actual users during the evaluation process, which can lead to choosing tools that are not truly fit for purpose.