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 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.