First of all, I loved the book! With The Phoenix Project, Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, and George Spafford has written one of the most thought-provoking IT books I've read in recent years.
The Phoenix Project is actually a novelization of DevOps principles rather than a strict how-to book on transforming IT Operations. It is written in the tradition of IT Novels such as the Stealing The Network series, which I read voraciously when I was learning about Information Security. I find the idea of using the genre of fiction to teach IT theory to be extremely effective, especially the concepts of DevOps, which are foreign to so many who are in the "traditional" IT space. The Phoenix Project provides a vivid use case that describes the dysfunctional relationship which exists, not only between traditional IT and the Lines of Business, but between different groups within IT itself. But not only does the book describe the problem, it offer a path to follow in order to transform IT into a true partner to the Business.
The protagonist in The Phoenix Project is Bill Palmer, newly promoted to VP of IT Operations for Parts Unlimited, a leading automotive parts manufacturer and retailer. The problem is that Palmer has been promoted because his managers were fired due to the failures of the IT department, particularly in completing a software initiative, called The Phoenix Project. This Phoenix Project is a software suite, developed in-house, designed to integrate manufacturing and retail while allowing Parts Unlimited to be more agile and nimble in accommodating to changes in market conditions. The project is intended to save the company, which has missed earning consistently and has fallen behind its main competitor; unfortunately, the project is millions of dollars over-budget and years late in delivery. Palmer is thrown on to the proverbial sinking ship and quickly caught up in one emergency after another and soon realizes that unless something quickly changes, The Phoenix Project is doomed to failure and along with it, Parts Unlimited. However, Palmer finds himself ill-equipped to understand and to implement the necessary changes to right the ship, especially when there is so much distrust and infighting within the IT organization and with the Lines of Business.
Then Palmer meets the enigmatic Erik Reid, a potential board member with some very unusual ideas for how to run IT Operations. Palmer is understandably skeptical but is soon drawn in as Reid takes him down the rabbit hole; through a series of encounters and events, Reid enlightens Palmer as to what is the true mission of IT and what must be done to make IT work as a partner to the Business. The truths that are discovered not only change Palmer but the entire culture of IT at Parts Unlimited.
I had two different reactions as I was reading The Phoenix Project. The first half of the book often made me reflexively reach for the Maalox as I found myself standing in Palmer's shoes, reliving outages caused by buggy code and miscommunication between IT departments. The second half of the book reads like the script from The Karate Kid, as we see Erik Reid, Aka. Mr. Miyagi, guide Bill Palmer, Aka. young Daniel, down the path to enlightenment about not only the methodology of DevOps but the cultural shift that is required for change. Sometimes the lessons involve seeing tasks that seem to have little value to sound IT Operations, but Reid is able to masterfully walk Palmer through the process until he sees the proper connections between Manufacturing Plant operations and IT Operations.
That relationship between Manufacturing Plants and IT was, for me, the key insight provided by the book. As Erik Reid succinctly states to Bill Palmer, "If you think IT Operations has nothing to learn from Plant Operations, you're wrong. Dead wrong. Your job as VP of IT Operations is to ensure the fast, predictable, and uninterrupted flow of planned work that delivers value to the business while minimizing the impact and disruption of unplanned work, so you can provide stable, predictable, and secure IT service." This is one of the best definition of IT Operations and also one of the most insightful statements on resource management that I've read to date. After all, what can be more basic to resource management, rather it be a data center, software development team, Cloud, or people, than ensuring they deliver value through the completion of planned work? Yet I would argue that because this is not the ultimate goal of many IT shops, they are easily sidetracked by the urgent and prevented from doing what is important.
The rest of the book shows how Palmer, with help from Reid, is able to inculcate a new culture in the IT department at Parts Unlimited so they can focus on the mission of saving the company by enabling the business of the company. Along the way, they learn about the four categories of work (business projects, internal IT projects, changes, and unplanned work), the Three ways, and the importance of Kanban. Each new discovery by Palmer and team is a call to action for IT departments that know they cannot maintain the status quo and must transform themselves to meet the demands of the current business environment.
I look forward to learning more and applying the principles from books such as the Phoenix Project. Now if only I could find a portable version of a Kanban Board!
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
The Phoenix Project: A Novel about IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business WinAmazon Videos
Image Unavailable
Image not available for
Color:
Color:
-
-
-
- To view this video download Flash Player
- 2 VIDEOS
Follow the author
Get new release updates & improved recommendations
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?
Page 1 of 1 Start over
- Accelerate: The Science of Lean Software and DevOps: Building and Scaling High Performing Technology OrganizationsPaperbackEUR 7.28 shippingGet it as soon as Monday, Feb 2Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
- Team Topologies, 2nd Edition: Organizing Business and Technology for Fast Flow of ValueMatthew SkeltonPaperbackEUR 7.41 shipping
About the author
Customers say
Customers find this book an excellent read for IT professionals, with well-researched content that serves as a good case study for understanding DevOps. Moreover, the story is compelling and keeps readers engaged, while the writing style is nicely written like a story. Additionally, customers appreciate the book's pacing, noting it's surprisingly fast-paced for the subject matter, and its usefulness in providing tools for managing project workflows.
AI Generated from the text of customer reviews
Select to learn more
884 customers mention readability, 859 positive, 25 negative
Such a great read! I bought this book with the intention of learning more about the changing IT organization and DevOps, but could not put it down....Read more
Easy read, somewhat pleasurable but enlightening at the same time. Good intro for people getting into DevOps. Provides a window into life in IT OpsRead more
This is a good read. Great introduction to DevOps. I could relate to the story line. Many of the problems being solved are real life in IT....Read more
...the concepts for DevOps in a manner that is both compelling and easy to read. Rather than a textbook, it's a story - one many of us have lived.Read more
473 customers mention insight, 465 positive, 8 negative
Well written, funny and informative. Well worth the money I spent on it. Would recommend to anyone in management that finds IT work interesting.Read more
Riveting and insightful. Understood and learned a lot. I'll certainly be reading it a few more times, to fully grasp all the concepts.Read more
...It was entertaining and enthralling- as well as educational. I feel much more aware of the steps involved in moving to a DevOps company....Read more
This is a good read. Great introduction to DevOps. I could relate to the story line. Many of the problems being solved are real life in IT....Read more
333 customers mention story quality, 293 positive, 40 negative
Excellent way to explain an IT transformation. it is a great story that shows the benefits of working in a collaborative way between Development and...Read more
...You know it's going to be a good story when it begins with our hero, Bill, being summoned to HR to be told that the CIO and VP of IT Operations are...Read more
Great Book! Thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Well told story, narrating how DevOps can help to overcome the typical challenges facing a non-native...Read more
This book is written in the form of a fictional story, and while this form feels a little forced at times, it makes for a very quick read....Read more
314 customers mention reading enjoyment, 294 positive, 20 negative
...IT manufacturer, this book was a great read that was not only entertaining, but gave great insight into what I know my customers are challenged...Read more
...That was never the the point. It is an interesting and mostly convincing introduction to Devops. A good way to get one's feet wet....Read more
If you're in IT or business you need to read this book. Beyond being a fun read, this book helps you understand different parts and intersections of...Read more
As a novel, it's pretty good - fast-paced, concise, and engaging. But I think it excels as a teaching tool for businesses even more than as a novel....Read more
159 customers mention writing style, 140 positive, 19 negative
Great book, well written, funny at times (sad how accurate), and lots of learning.... also how did the author work in my office without us seeing him.Read more
...A very well written and compelling novel and worth a read for anyone in IT/InfoSec or even business folk who don't understand those IT/InfoSec folk.Read more
...It's a quick read and written as a novel, but it really helps to paint a good picture of the types of problems that companies face all the time and...Read more
This is a well written story that will engage you into thinking through the first steps of proper DevOps.Read more
136 customers mention use, 132 positive, 4 negative
...The concepts explained in the book are clear and useful. They may be better explained in future revisions of the book.Read more
...It really is a practical and interesting read, any IT department should have this available to their staff. It is a divergent thinking type of read....Read more
...Very inspiring and helpful for people trying to run or develop IT organizations.Read more
Great read. Very helpful, and it changed my view on how to manage IT work. I would recommend all managers in IT to read it.Read more
125 customers mention pacing, 96 positive, 29 negative
...who has led engineering and IT departments, I strongly recommend this quick and compelling read. I honestly couldn't put it down.Read more
...Your job as VP of IT Operations is to ensure the fast, predictable, and uninterrupted flow of planned work that delivers value to the business while...Read more
...& Kanban, but instead the book zooms in on IT governance, continuous improvement and relationship building with the rest of the organization.Read more
very slow book. pretty good if you are a first year IT personRead more
112 customers mention enlightenedness, 109 positive, 3 negative
...As a partner at an technical agency, I found this journey to be inspiring and educational. I'm now asking everyone at our company to read this.Read more
Enlightening for whoever wants to create IT-Value chain and time-to-market capability, this is one of the best books for IT I have read for recent...Read more
...too excited about many work type books but this is so exciting , thought provoking, we've been there & at some points in process, are still there,...Read more
...Thoughtful, meaningful and yet does not come off as preachy. On a lighter vein, I couldn't digest the irony of it all!!...Read more
A Must-Read for Delta Airlines Executives!
If only this were required reading at Delta Airlines. It's possible that many of the IT infrastructure issues happening this week (8/8/2016) could have been avoided entirely. Do yourself a favor and read this book, if you work in or around IT.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2013
Top reviews from other countries
- K KReviewed in Singapore on January 19, 2020
Amazing book - turns a technical subject into a page-turner
- jonobleReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2013
Everyone in IT should read this book.
-
- Paulo Tiago ZaniniReviewed in Germany on January 5, 2026
Informative, engaging, useful
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
