For CloudBees CI, should we focus on enhancing cloud-native capabilities or improving on-premises deployment options?

Introduction

The trade-off we're examining today is whether CloudBees CI should focus on enhancing cloud-native capabilities or improving on-premises deployment options. This decision is crucial for the product's future direction and market positioning. I'll analyze this trade-off by considering user needs, market trends, technical implications, and business impact. Let's dive into the key aspects of this scenario and explore the best path forward.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Context: I'm thinking about the current market landscape for CI/CD tools. Could you share any recent shifts in customer preferences between cloud and on-premises solutions?

Why it matters: Helps gauge market demand and align our strategy accordingly. Expected answer: Increasing cloud adoption, but significant on-prem demand remains. Impact on approach: Would influence resource allocation between the two options.

• Business Context: Based on our revenue model, I assume both cloud and on-prem offerings contribute significantly. Can you confirm the revenue split between these two deployment models?

Why it matters: Determines financial implications of focusing on one area over the other. Expected answer: 60% cloud, 40% on-prem (or similar ratio). Impact on approach: Would help prioritize based on revenue potential and customer base.

• User Impact: I'm curious about our user segments. What percentage of our enterprise customers require on-premises solutions due to regulatory or security concerns?

Why it matters: Identifies critical user needs and potential risks of neglecting on-prem. Expected answer: 30-40% of enterprise customers have strict on-prem requirements. Impact on approach: Would influence the balance between cloud and on-prem focus.

• Technical: Regarding our current architecture, how modular is it in terms of separating cloud-native and on-prem components?

Why it matters: Assesses the feasibility and effort required for independent improvements. Expected answer: Moderately modular, with some shared components. Impact on approach: Would affect the development strategy and resource allocation.

• Resource: Considering our current team structure, do we have dedicated teams for cloud and on-prem development, or is it a shared resource pool?

Why it matters: Determines our ability to pursue both options simultaneously. Expected answer: Shared resource pool with some specialization. Impact on approach: Would influence how we structure our development efforts.