First impressions are crucial for any new software release. A business may improve its offering with subsequent updates, but consumers won’t stick around to find out if a sloppy rollout shakes their confidence.
IT release management oversees iterative software development, ensuring every feature or update deploys smoothly, meets user expectations, and aligns with business goals. However, this process involves much more than just hitting “deploy.” In fact, it’s a series of complex steps – from to deployment and evaluation – that require seamless coordination between multiple teams.
This guide will define IT release management, walk you through each stage, and discuss best practices. Finally, we’ll show you how Tempo can optimize the process for greater success.
What is IT release management?
IT is a structured process for scheduling and controlling software releases. The goal is to ensure a smooth and reliable deployment of software updates or new features that align with business objectives.
Release management also provides a strategic framework for coordinating efforts across development and operations. By maintaining a transparent and efficient release process, IT teams can support business agility, improve software quality, and foster collaboration between departments.
What are the stages of IT release management?
There are various approaches to the release management process – ITIL and DevOps, to name a few. Whether you adopt a standardized ITIL release management framework or a more flexible agile approach, you must complete several essential steps before deploying your product.
The IT release management process comprises five key stages: planning, building, testing, deployment, and post-release evaluation. Each stage contributes to a successful software release that fulfills technical and business requirements.
1. Planning
First, leadership and stakeholders in the development team lay the groundwork for the release, outlining the objectives, scope, and timeline. They define the included features or updates and create a release schedule to keep things organized.
With this information – and input from external stakeholders – the development team can set priorities. A clear plan coordinates teams’ efforts and tells everyone what’s expected of them.
2. Building
In the building phase, developers focus on coding the new release – adding features, fixing bugs, or making general improvements. Change management processes ensure these additions don’t conflict with each other or otherwise disrupt functionality. An essential facet of change management is version control, which helps developers track every change to the software.
3. Testing
Testing ensures the software is ready to be deployed. Quality assurance (QA) teams test for bugs, performance issues, and overall functionality in a test environment. The goal is to identify and address any problems before the release goes live.
QA teams use different forms of testing, such as unit tests, integration tests, and user acceptance testing (UAT), to confirm the release is stable and working correctly.
User acceptance testing, or beta testing, gives end users limited access to the product before software deployment. Since it occurs on end users’ devices (aka the production environment), UAT gathers critical feedback about how features hold up outside the testing environment.
The testing stage is critical for verifying that the product is ready for the most important phase: software deployment.
4. Deployment
Software deployment involves moving the software from development to production, making the release available to end users. Depending on the software and the company’s needs, deployment could be completed in a single rollout or multiple stages.
Even after the release is deployed, teams are prepared for unexpected errors. They monitor deployment closely in the production environment to promptly address issues.
5. Post-release evaluation
The development team’s job doesn’t end after deployment. They are responsible for confirming the release is stable and meets users’ needs. Teams continue to access the release to gauge performance, gather user feedback, and check for issues.
Any feedback or insights collected also help improve future releases. Beyond analyzing the release, post-release evaluation provides an opportunity to assess how well the release process worked and make necessary adjustments.
Roles and responsibilities in release management
A successful release depends on effective collaboration, with each team member contributing expertise and insights at every stage. Here are some of the essential roles in the software development process that facilitate smooth releases:
Release managers
Release managers are the backbone of the release process. They oversee each phase, upholding timelines and aligning goals with business objectives.
Release managers work with developers, QA teams, and stakeholders to address roadblocks and guarantee a seamless transition from development to deployment. Their ability to communicate effectively and proactively manage risks makes them crucial to a successful release.
Developers
Developers write code, create new features, and fix bugs. They collaborate closely with QA teams to verify their code functions as expected and meets quality standards. Developers also enact change management via version control and coding best practices, maintaining organization and cohesion across releases.
Quality assurance teams
QA teams are the gatekeepers of software quality. They perform various types of testing, including functional, regression, performance, and UAT testing, to confirm the software is reliable and user-friendly. A thorough QA process catches potential issues before deployment, preventing costly errors and user frustration.
Stakeholders
Stakeholders, such as product managers or business leaders, play a vital role in shaping a release. They define objectives, determine which features to prioritize, and ensure that the software supports the company’s overarching goals. Their ongoing feedback helps software development teams make informed adjustments and refine the release.
Best practices for release management
Follow these to make your IT process even smoother:
Utilize automation: Automation speeds up testing and deployment while reducing the risk of errors. It’s a cost-effective way to streamline the release management process.
Practice change management: Version control systems track changes to the code and keep you posted on the latest updates. Avoid conflicts by maintaining careful notes throughout the development process.
Test early and often: The earlier you catch issues, the better. Run tests at every stage so you aren’t surprised by last-minute problems right before the release is deployed. Run various , including automated, manual, and user acceptance tests.
Document everything: Clear, detailed documentation aligns your team and helps you troubleshoot issues. It’s also valuable for refining future release management processes.
Have a backup plan: Software development doesn’t always go as expected. A rollback plan lets you quickly revert to a stable version if something goes awry during deployment.
Enhancing IT release management with Tempo
Effective IT release management processes are vital for deploying high-quality software updates. A structured approach, automation, and integrated tools help the release manager maintain timely, continuous delivery while exceeding business and end user expectations.
Tempo’s solutions simplify the release process by facilitating live tracking and real-time collaboration. Release managers can monitor progress at every step of the release cycle, spotting risks before they hinder the development process and improving communication across all departments.
Tempo’s robust tools, such as and , help you analyze past releases and make data-driven decisions for future deployments. What’s more, provides advanced reporting capabilities to streamline your release management process.
With Tempo, you’re not just managing releases; you’re empowering your team to work smarter. today to optimize your IT release management process.
