Many Software Release Managers can relate to this insight: Poorly managed software update releases can lead to significant problems, including broken functionality, security vulnerabilities, dissatisfied customers, and subpar user experience.
Lack of a Clear Roadmap – Poor Planning & Coordination – No structured release schedule or prioritization of features & fixes – Weak cross-team communication- Poor collaboration between development, QA, & operations teams – Insufficient resource allocation i.e. No dedicated Devs, testers, or time to update process
Inadequate Testing or Skipping Comprehensive Testing – i.e. Relying on minimal testing -Releasing updates without thorough testing across various Enviro, devices, & use cases -Overlooking edge cases, compatibility issues, & regression testing for older features – Ignoring automated testing – Lack of automation leads to inconsistencies and errors
Pressure to Meet Deadlines – Rushing Releases i.e. Pushing updates before they are stable due to market demands and or executive pressure
Ignoring Red Flags – Releasing Updates Despite Known Issues i.e. Skipping beta testing – Neglecting user feedback from beta/pilot releases & insufficient readiness
Inadequate or No Rollback Strategy – i.e. Ignoring to prepare a roll back strategy in case of a major issue due to poor version control which will result in difficulty identifying and restoring the previous stable version – Slow action in rolling back updates or ignoring ‘backward compatibility’ issues will cause prolonged downtime & eventual user dissatisfaction
Lack of Release Notes – Not informing users about what has changed or purpose of this update. Scheduling updates without notifying users or preparing them for possible downtime
Neglecting Security Best Practices – Not addressing known security risks during development processes – Weak authentication – Failing to validate update packages, leading to risks e.g. supply chain attacks – Releasing updates from insecure or poorly monitored systems
