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Welcome to this comprehensive guide on priority, time, and capacity management tailored for DevOps professionals. I’m Michael Forrester, and in this lesson we’ll break down strategies to optimize your workflow and align with stakeholder goals. Here’s what we’ll cover:

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1. Pre-Assessment

Begin by measuring how effectively you manage priorities, time, and capacity. The results will help you identify strengths and areas for growth.
The image is a pre-assessment chart for managing priorities, time, and capacity, with color-coded categories for preferred, moderate, and needs improvement. It includes a small video thumbnail of a person in the bottom right corner.
Completing the pre-assessment baseline lets you track progress as you apply new techniques.

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2. The Art of Prioritization

Mastering prioritization is essential in a fast-paced DevOps environment. You’ll learn to:
  • Identify high-impact tasks that deliver maximum value
  • Balance stakeholder expectations
  • Adapt to shifting priorities with proven frameworks
TechniqueUse CaseReference
80/20 RuleFocus on the 20% of tasks driving 80% of outcomesPareto Principle
Eisenhower MatrixSeparate urgent vs. important tasksEisenhower Matrix
The image illustrates a "Priority Level Spectrum" with three categories: High Urgency, Medium, and Low, each represented by overlapping colored circles. It emphasizes that effective prioritization is both a skill and an art.

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3. The Science of Time Management

Efficient time management isn’t just about doing more—it’s about doing the right things better. In this section, we’ll cover:
  • Scheduling techniques and tooling
  • Tracking estimates versus actual durations
  • Iterating on your process for continuous improvement
The image is a presentation slide titled "The Science of Time Management," featuring three sections: Tools and Technology, Efficient Time Management, and Effective Utilization of Time. It includes a quote about time management in DevOps and a small image of a person speaking.
Underestimating work durations can lead to missed deadlines and team burnout. Always include a buffer for surprises.

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4. The Magic of Capacity Planning

Capacity planning ensures you and your team can handle current and future workloads without overcommitment. You will learn to:
  • Size tasks over different time horizons
  • Assign clear ownership
  • Manage uncertainty with data-driven adjustments
The image illustrates the concept of capacity planning with a graph showing uncertainty over time, featuring bars labeled "Size in 1 year" and "Size in 10 years." A person is depicted with a question mark, indicating uncertainty, and there's a small inset of a person speaking.

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5. Scenario Case Studies

Put theory into practice with real-world workflows. You’ll observe how teams:
  1. Introduce new tasks
  2. Assess their impact
  3. Reprioritize work
  4. Achieve successful resolution
The image is a flowchart illustrating a team's workflow for handling additional tasks, with four stages: Initial Workflow, Introduction of New Task, Team's Strategic Response, and Successful Resolution. There is also a small inset of a person speaking in the bottom right corner.

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Summary & Key Takeaways

  • Pre-Assessment: Benchmark your current practices
  • Prioritization: Apply the 80/20 Rule and Eisenhower Matrix
  • Time Management: Use tracking tools and buffer estimates
  • Capacity Planning: Size work, assign ownership, and adjust for uncertainty
  • Real-World Scenarios: Test and refine your approach under changing conditions
Effective priority, time, and capacity management ensures that your deliverables align with stakeholder expectations—whether you’re in interrupt-driven firefighting or focused project work.
The image is a summary slide about Priority, Time, and Capacity Management, featuring key points and icons related to time management and balance. There's also a small video thumbnail of a person in the bottom right corner.

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Further Reading

Thanks for following along—see you in the next lesson!

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