Transforming Development Processes with LogicManager 2.0: A Case Study

Effective corporate governance hinges on the ability to provide actionable insights into your organization’s risks and how they impact strategic goals. For our software development department, leveraging LogicManager 2.0 (LM 2.0) has been a game-changer in managing these risks more effectively. This joint blog post between our Technical Lead Architect, Nate Ford, and the Director of People Operations, Taylor Graham will walk you through our journey and how LM 2.0 empowered us to streamline our processes and enhance risk management.

Background

Our software development department is segmented into four teams: three focused on application development and one dedicated to reporting capabilities. Like many organizations, we face common industry challenges, particularly those related to governance and effective risk management. These challenges are often more about people and processes than technology.

A New Approach to Leadership and Knowledge Sharing 

One of the perennial challenges for experts and leaders is effectively conveying complex information to the upper echelons of management. LogicManager (LM 2.0) helps bridge this gap by providing clear, actionable insights that can be easily communicated and implemented. This capability transforms how our People Operations, interacts with and influences the broader strategic goals of our organization. This means using data-driven insights provided by LM 2.0 to refine our objectives and key results (OKRs), shape our policies, and boost our overall efficiency.

It has brought a commonality to the language we speak, that language being the data and insights that paint a full picture for both technical and non-technical stakeholders and level the playing field to make the business truly flourish and continually iterate. 

This cross-disciplinary presence is key to understanding the holistic impact of new technologies on various aspects of business operations. As we navigate through the complexities of our roles, it’s vital to bridge the gap between technical expertise and strategic management to enhance organizational effectiveness.

Step 1: Identifying Risks

Our journey began with a need to improve certain processes within our development team. The first step was to codify these improvements into a policy. We created a tech spec policy to define how our technical architects should develop and manage technical specifications. This policy aimed to break down work into smaller, more manageable chunks to improve predictability and accuracy in our estimations

Identifying risks at the policy creation stage ensures that potential issues are addressed proactively. By defining clear guidelines and breaking down work into smaller tasks, we can better predict outcomes and allocate resources more efficiently. This foundational step is crucial for setting the stage for effective risk management

Step 2: Leveraging LogicManager 2.0

With LM 2.0, we could automate the identification and assessment of risks within our newly created policy. Using the LogicManager Expert (LMX), we fed our tech spec policy into the system to automatically identify potential risks and controls. This capability allowed us to address resource allocation issues and other risks more efficiently

Automation through LM 2.0 saves time and reduces human error in risk identification. By leveraging the system’s capabilities, we can ensure that all potential risks are considered and appropriate controls are put in place. This step enhances the thoroughness and efficiency of our risk management process.

Step 3: Assessing Risks

The next crucial step was to assess the identified risks. Risk assessments help prioritize risks, guide resource allocation, and enhance organizational resilience. The insights provided by LM 2.0 facilitated this process, making it easier to understand which metrics were most important for our organization.

Assessing risks allows us to prioritize them based on their potential impact and likelihood. This prioritization is essential for effective resource allocation, ensuring that the most critical risks are addressed first. It also helps in developing a risk-aware culture within the organization, where everyone understands the importance of proactively managing risks.

Step 4: Automating Metrics and Monitoring

One of the standout features of LM 2.0 is its ability to automate the calculation of key metrics. We used the events module to track all work done by our development team. This data was then used to automatically calculate metrics such as cycle time and velocity. These metrics provided insights into individual and team performance, helping us identify skill gaps and areas for process improvement.

Automating metrics and monitoring provides real-time insights into the performance of our development processes. This continuous monitoring helps in identifying trends and patterns that may indicate underlying issues. By having accurate and up-to-date information, we can make informed decisions and take corrective actions promptly.

Step 5: Continuous Improvement

The power of LM 2.0 lies in its ability to foster continuous improvement. By automating risk identification, assessment, and metric calculation, we could focus on addressing the root causes of issues rather than just the symptoms. This approach has been instrumental in improving our development processes and overall organizational effectiveness.

Continuous improvement is essential for maintaining a competitive edge and achieving long-term success. By regularly reviewing and refining our processes, we can adapt to changing circumstances and continuously enhance our performance. LM 2.0 supports this by providing the tools and insights needed to drive ongoing improvements.

Conclusion

By harnessing the capabilities of tools like LM 2.0 and embracing partnerships across various disciplines, we can collectively enhance our approach to business challenges, risk management, and our development process. It has enabled us to automate risk management processes, identify and assess risks more effectively, and continuously improve our operations harness these insights not only to adapt but also to thrive in an ever-evolving business landscape.

We hope this case study provides valuable insights into how you can leverage LogicManager 2.0 to enhance your organization’s risk management capabilities.