5-Seconds Digest
- Learn to set up a release process with Jira, EazyBI, and Golive.
- Find ways to balance speed with quality.
- Use data for real-time tracking and better team alignment.
- Discover key ceremonies and automation tips for smooth releases.
Over the last 20 years as a Delivery & Release Manager across sectors like insurance, banking, luxury, and pharma, I’ve faced my fair share of challenges when delivering software. You know the feeling—everything’s going quickly, but a last-minute surprise throws off the whole release. That’s where release management comes in. It’s more than organizing a process; it’s about solving the real problems we face when building and delivering software.
One of the first significant challenges for me was calibrating the delivery cycle. Speed was critical, but so was the need to maintain quality. We needed a process that balanced both without exhausting the team.
Then there was the question of sustainability. You can push hard and deliver fast once or twice, but can you do it repeatedly without burning out? I learned that creating a steady, manageable rhythm was vital. It’s not just about delivering today but being able to keep it up tomorrow, next week, and beyond.
Quality was always a top concern, too. I’m a firm believer that better quality comes from structure. If you’ve got a process that keeps things in check—whether it’s testing or tracking defects—you’ll end up with a product that meets the standards every time. It’s like building a solid house; without a good foundation, everything falls apart.
Let’s be honest: Everyone hates surprises, especially when you’re on a deadline. Predictability became a goal. I wanted my team to know when things would be ready without the last-minute chaos. A robust process helps us stick to timelines and confidently say when something’s going out the door.
But this works with communication. We’ve all been in situations where one hand doesn’t know what the other is doing. Getting everyone on the same page, including dev, QA, and stakeholders, was critical for me. Decisions are more accessible when the correct information is shared at the right time and everyone moves forward together.
Finally, there’s the matter of time. Getting a product to market quickly is always the goal, but I’ve seen how a efficient release process can make a huge difference. When the steps are clear, and the bottlenecks are removed, you get there faster—and your team feels good about how it all came together.
Learn how Release Dashboards will help you master your communication.
Learn how Release Dashboards will help you master your communication.
How to Implement a Release Process
Key Take-aways
When done right, the release process is like the secret sauce that brings everything together. Using tools like Jira, EazyBI, and Golive, we’ve kept releases on track, met deadlines, and—most importantly—delivered quality products.
Focusing on core problems like delivery cadence, communication, and time to market, we’ve turned release management into a robust process that’s helped our team thrive. And when everything flows together—from the initial planning to the final deployment—you end up with a release cycle that feels as smooth as it gets.