Treat Manual Work as Temporary

This standard underscores the imperative to treat manual work as a temporary anomaly, not a sustainable practice. It promotes a culture of relentless automation, prioritizing the elimination of repetitive, error-prone, and time-consuming tasks to enhance efficiency and reduce operational risks.

1. Treat Manual Work as Temporary & Prioritise Automation:

Manual processes introduce inefficiencies, increase the risk of human error, and hinder scalability. Therefore, they must be viewed as temporary solutions, with a strong emphasis on their swift automation.

  • 1.1 Documentation & Identification of Manual Processes:
    • 1.1.1 Comprehensive Documentation:
      • Thoroughly document all manual processes, including step-by-step instructions, dependencies, and potential error points.
      • Utilize a standardised documentation format to ensure clarity and consistency.
    • 1.1.2 Proactive Identification:
      • Establish mechanisms for proactively identifying manual processes, encouraging team members to report them.
      • Conduct regular process reviews to uncover hidden manual tasks.
  • 1.2 Automation Backlog & Prioritisation:
    • 1.2.1 Automation Backlog:
      • Create a dedicated backlog for tracking manual processes and automation requests.
      • Utilise a project management tool to manage the backlog and track progress.
    • 1.2.2 Sprint Planning Prioritisation:
      • Prioritize automation tasks during sprint planning, allocating dedicated resources for their implementation.
      • Factor in the potential return on investment (ROI) and risk reduction when prioritising automation efforts.
    • 1.2.3 Regular Review and Adjustment:
      • Regularly review the automation backlog and adjust priorities based on changing business needs and technological advancements.
  • 1.3 Automation Implementation:
    • 1.3.1 Scripting & Tooling:
      • Utilise scripting languages (e.g., Python, Bash) and automation tools (e.g., Ansible, Terraform) to automate manual tasks.
      • Develop reusable automation scripts and modules to promote consistency and efficiency.
    • 1.3.2 Infrastructure as Code (IaC):
      • Implement IaC to automate infrastructure provisioning, configuration, and deployment.
      • Ensure that infrastructure changes are managed through code and version control.
    • 1.3.3 CI/CD Integration:
      • Integrate automation scripts and tools into CI/CD pipelines to automate build, test, and deployment processes.
      • Utilise CI/CD tools to automate repetitive tasks and ensure consistent deployments.
  • 1.4 Continuous Improvement & Measurement:
    • 1.4.1 Performance Metrics:
      • Define and track performance metrics to measure the impact of automation efforts (e.g., time savings, error reduction).
      • Use data to identify areas for further automation and optimisation.
    • 1.4.2 Feedback Loops:
      • Establish feedback loops to gather input from team members on the effectiveness of automation efforts.
      • Continuously improve automation processes based on feedback and performance data.
    • 1.4.3 Knowledge Sharing:
      • Promote knowledge sharing and collaboration among team members on automation best practices.
      • Document automation processes and share them with the team.

By adopting this standard, organisations can cultivate a culture of automation, significantly reducing manual effort, improving operational efficiency, and mitigating the risks associated with human error.