Creating an E2E Process to Manage the AVL Firmware at the Datacenter
Yin, Zhongtao (2023)
2023
All rights reserved. This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023112731925
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023112731925
Tiivistelmä
This thesis addresses a crucial challenge faced by a leading Finnish company in the telecom sector. The focal point is the Data Center Hardware R&D division, fighting with firmware management challenges concerning the Approved Vendor List (AVL) devices. The need to establish a coherent AVL firmware management process is not just a technical requirement but a strategic necessity for the organization's success.
The current state analysis identified inadequate control over AVL firmware, resulting in inefficiencies, wasted effort, and risks to data center hardware. Accordingly, the thesis set the objective to create a comprehensive AVL firmware management process that would aggregate and synchronize information from various organizations, ensuring quality before customer delivery.
The thesis employed qualitative research methods that explores the scope, stakeholders, existing practices, and identified the key development issues in the current AVL firmware management. Three critical focus areas, namely the guidance for contributors, central version control, and a holistic update approach were selected for development. The theoretical framework focused on the data center industry practices and service design as the guiding methodology for development.
The proposal introduces a novel role (HW PM) and refined the AVL “Definition of Done”. The process workflow was divided into two parts, to address development and maintenance phases separately. The proposal was tested in a new program, and then validated in a series of workshops and feedback loops. Validation of the proposal involved key stakeholders and experts, leading to refinements in the key areas such as clearly defining stakeholders, revising the firmware testing process, and enhancing the definition of the AVL firmware repository and access control. The final proposal outlined a new AVL firmware management process. The thesis contributes by emphasizing the strategic impact of the proposed AVL firmware management process, anticipating reduced effort, minimized risks, and enhanced reputation for the organization. It serves not only as a technical solution but as a guide for sustained innovation and excellence in the ever-evolving landscape of telecom and data center hardware.
The current state analysis identified inadequate control over AVL firmware, resulting in inefficiencies, wasted effort, and risks to data center hardware. Accordingly, the thesis set the objective to create a comprehensive AVL firmware management process that would aggregate and synchronize information from various organizations, ensuring quality before customer delivery.
The thesis employed qualitative research methods that explores the scope, stakeholders, existing practices, and identified the key development issues in the current AVL firmware management. Three critical focus areas, namely the guidance for contributors, central version control, and a holistic update approach were selected for development. The theoretical framework focused on the data center industry practices and service design as the guiding methodology for development.
The proposal introduces a novel role (HW PM) and refined the AVL “Definition of Done”. The process workflow was divided into two parts, to address development and maintenance phases separately. The proposal was tested in a new program, and then validated in a series of workshops and feedback loops. Validation of the proposal involved key stakeholders and experts, leading to refinements in the key areas such as clearly defining stakeholders, revising the firmware testing process, and enhancing the definition of the AVL firmware repository and access control. The final proposal outlined a new AVL firmware management process. The thesis contributes by emphasizing the strategic impact of the proposed AVL firmware management process, anticipating reduced effort, minimized risks, and enhanced reputation for the organization. It serves not only as a technical solution but as a guide for sustained innovation and excellence in the ever-evolving landscape of telecom and data center hardware.