Leadership on Romano Roth

The Rise of the Agentic Enterprise: AI's Role in Business Transformation

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Although AI has moved fast, many organisations haven’t. Most leaders we speak to aren’t short on ideas, proofs of concept, or vendor demos. The challenge is turning AI into something repeatable, a capability you can trust, scale, and steer without creating new risks or bottlenecks.

Structured disruption: The benefits of becoming a Cybernetic Enterprise

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Discover the people, processes and technology you’ll need to mitigate setbacks on your transformation journey, and unlock AI-augmented ROI that compounds as it scales.

Cybernetic Enterprise: The New Operating System for Organizations

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Most companies that work in an agile way today while simultaneously trying to implement AI will not survive the next decade, in my opinion. The reason: their operating system is too old. The future is not agile. The future is not AI either. The future is cybernetic.

Agility in Action: Mindset, Processes, and Real Results

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

How much agility can software development really handle, and where does agility tip into chaos? In this episode of the “Modern Work 2 Go” podcast (in German), I speak with Florian Schneider about exactly these questions. We dive deep into a concrete real-world example: an agile transformation at a Swiss bank that I accompanied over eight years. The conversation covers the shift from waterfall to agility, scaling with SAFe, building value streams, and why continuous improvement is the central pillar of every transformation.

Beyond the AI Hype: How to Use AI Safely for Innovation, IP and R&D

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Does AI really solve the problems we have? What does it mean for innovation and intellectual property? Will AI replace patent analysts? In this webinar with IamIP, I cut through the fog of AI hype and share a practical framework for understanding where AI genuinely adds value, and where it falls short.

How industrial companies can become “AI-ready” and future-proof

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 21:13:49 +0000

When people, machines, and algorithms work as a “team,” more than automation emerges: a learning and resilient factory. But how can industrial companies make the leap into the AI era without losing their human element?

How to Build a Future-Ready Organization

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In this LeanPub podcast episode, host Len Epp and I have a deep conversation about my book “The Cybernetic Enterprise: How to Build a Future-Ready Organization.” We cover everything from my career journey at Zühlke, to why the future is cybernetic rather than just AI, to the practical steps of enterprise transformation. If you have ever wondered what it takes to build an organization that can continuously adapt, this conversation covers the essential ideas.

Humans + Machines: The Future of Work & AI

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I recently joined the Digital Analog Podcast to talk about what it really means when humans and machines work together. As the Chief of Cybernetic Transformation and Partner at Zühlke, I deal with these questions every day. In this conversation, we covered everything from the biggest obstacles in digital transformation to why AI agents could change the way we collaborate, and why simplicity should be every organization’s guiding principle.

Why 70% of Digital Transformations Fail: Inside the Cybernetic Enterprise Book

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The digital landscape today feels less like a steady path and more like white water rapids. Constant change, new technologies, and relentless pressure to adapt. In this deep dive, two hosts explore my book “Cybernetic Enterprise V1.0.0” and unpack why traditional digital transformations keep failing, and what the alternative looks like: a holistic new operating model where adaptability becomes the organization’s default state.

Your Company's Operating System Is Broken: The Cybernetic Enterprise Upgrade

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

You know that feeling when your company just feels slow? Always lagging, always crashing, not built for the modern world? What if that is not just a feeling? What if your organization is literally running on an outdated operating system? In this video, we explore the concept of the Cybernetic Enterprise and why it represents a fundamental upgrade for how businesses operate.

The Cybernetic Enterprise: How Organizations Can Learn, Adapt, and Deliver in an AI-Native World

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 18:32:44 +0000

From Christoph Gulden

Welcome to Thought Leaders Talk, a podcast-style daily newsletter where bold minds meet real questions. In each episode, we talk with a guest who doesn’t just follow ideas, they shape them. No nonsense. No posturing. Just clear, original thinking on what truly matters.

The Cybernetic Enterprise: turning industrial AI hype into lasting value

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 22:00:00 +0000

AI is everywhere, but clarity, strategy, and real impact are often left by the wayside. We live in the era of what Romano Roth has dubbed ‘AI idiots’, an era of flashy demos rather than genuine long-term value. But a smarter way forward is possible. Discover the Cybernetic Enterprise and the business value it offers for industrial organisations.

Cybernetics Is the Future: Why AI and DevOps Alone Won’t Get Us There

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 21:25:27 +0000

“AI won’t fix your broken processes. DevOps won’t save your business. But Cybernetics might.”

At DevOps Pro Europe 2025 in Vilnius, I had the privilege of delivering the opening keynote to a packed hall of engineers, architects, and leaders navigating the ever-accelerating evolution of enterprise technology. My message was direct:

Riding the AI Wave: How Industrial Companies Can Harness It Purposefully

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 14:24:52 +0000

Why AI Alone Doesn’t Replace Strategy
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Artificial Intelligence is the central topic in the industrial sector, too. But to gain real competitive advantages through and with AI, companies must not blindly follow the hype. An “AI-First” label guarantees neither innovation nor future viability. Only those who combine people, technology, and organization in a learning system, the Cybernetic Enterprise, will be successful in the long run.

The Cybernetic Enterprise: Why AI Alone Won’t Transform Industry

Sat, 17 May 2025 21:42:39 +0000

Keynote at the CTO Forum of the Rudolf-Diesel-Medaille. Hosted by Zühlke, Munich

We Are Living in the AI Hype Era
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AI is dominating headlines. From natural language interfaces to automated code generation, the pace of development is relentless. But alongside this excitement, we are seeing inflated promises, rushed implementations, and disappointing returns.

DevEx: A Strategic Imperative for Business Success

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 20:01:24 +0000

Romano Roth advocates the importance of companies focusing on the developer experience and enabling developers to concentrate on creating business value.

The Cybernetic Enterprise is Coming: Are You Ready?

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 23:00:00 +0000

In August 2025 I will release my new book, The Cybernetic Enterprise: How to Build a Future-Ready Organization.

It is the product of two decades spent guiding enterprises through DevOps, platform engineering and, more recently, AI-driven transformation. Today I want to give you a deeper look at what the book delivers, and why it matters right now.

Building High-Impact DevOps: Expert Insights

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I recently joined Ben on the We Chat Tech podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about DevOps, leadership, career growth, and the future of AI in software engineering. Over 23 years at Zühlke, I have worked across industries helping organizations transform how they deliver software. In this episode, we covered everything from the fundamentals of DevOps to the skills that future engineers will need.

DevOpsDays Zürich: Bigger is Not Always Better

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

On October 4, 2024, the global DevOpsDays Organizer Summit took place in Antwerp, bringing together organizers from DevOpsDays events around the world. Our team from DevOpsDays Zürich delivered a presentation titled “Bigger is Not Always Better.” I was not able to attend in person due to another conference, but my co-organizers Nadine and Dirk absolutely rocked the stage. Here is the story of why we decided not to scale our sold-out conference.

Harnessing the Power of Enterprise Architecture and AI for Strategic Benefit

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Enterprise Architecture is a big word that hangs heavy in the air. What does it actually mean for your organisation, and how does AI fit into the picture? In this talk, which I gave at the HSLU (Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts) in association with the Digital Veterans Association, I explore how Enterprise Architecture, platform engineering, and AI come together as a strategic lever for modern organisations.

What Does Good DevOps Look Like?

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode of the Ship It podcast, Gerhard Lazu and I have a deep conversation about what good DevOps looks like in practice. We talk about the real challenges companies face during transformations, how to deal with middle management resistance, technology choices, and where the industry is heading with AIOps and hyper automation.

DevOps Institute Podcast: DevOps Is NOT Dead

Sat, 27 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I joined Eveline Oehrlich, Chief Research Officer at the DevOps Institute, on the Humans of DevOps podcast for a conversation about whether DevOps is dead. Spoiler: it is not. But the reality in most companies is that we have not progressed as far as many people think. In this episode, we talk about what a Chief of DevOps actually does, why companies still struggle with walls of confusion, how platform engineering enables scaling, and my prediction about digital factories.

DevOps Transformations: My Lessons Learned

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

DevOps transformations look simple on paper. Take an existing environment, add the Spotify model, throw in SAFe, sprinkle some Team Topologies, add DevOps and platform engineering, stir well, add as many tools as possible, and stir again. What happens? It crashes. And people say “DevOps is bullshit.”

Overcoming Resistance: The Powerful Method You Need

Sat, 23 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In this podcast episode, I have a conversation with Peyton Einhaus about one of the most challenging aspects of any transformation: dealing with resistance. Whether you are running an agile transformation, a DevOps transformation, or any organizational change, resistance is always present. The question is how you handle it effectively.

The Business Case of DevOps: How to Convince Your Decision Makers

Sat, 05 Aug 2023 01:00:00 +0000

Every DevOps enthusiast faces the same challenge at some point: you know DevOps works, your team knows it works, but the decision makers want proof. They want a business case. In this talk at ContainerDays 2019, I break down a practical framework for convincing CIOs and managers to fund your DevOps transformation.

D for DevOps: The Philosophy of Software Engineering

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 22:00:00 +0000

I had the honor of being interviewed by 📈 Matt Warcholinski 💾 from Brainhub in his 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭🎙️ on 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩.

🔎 If you’ve ever wondered about the ins and outs of introducing 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐎𝐩𝐬 into your organization, this episode is a must-listen! We delved into some fascinating topics, and I’m thrilled to share a few highlights from our conversation:

DevOps Is NOT Dead

Wed, 10 May 2023 06:49:56 +0000

Join Eveline Oehrlich and Romano Roth, to discuss whether DevOps is Dead.

Transcript
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Narrator 00:02 You’re listening to the humans of DevOps podcast, a podcast focused on advancing the humans of DevOps through skills, knowledge, ideas, and learning, or the skil framework.

Golem.de Interview: "When we talk about DevOps, we need to talk about people"

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Romano Roth is Chief of DevOps at Zühlke. In this interview, he explains why DevOps is not bullshit, how transformation succeeds in companies, and what IT students really need to learn.

How to Survive Game of Thrones in the Workplace: A Guide for Conflict Management

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

In every project, every company, every department, there is a Game of Thrones being played. Power plays between people, teams, and departments that result in massive conflicts. In this talk, I share why these conflicts exist, what strategies you can use to survive them, and how to stay healthy during difficult times. The Game of Thrones is played everywhere. It starts in kindergarten with the fight over a puppet and ends at your deathbed when descendants fight over your heritage.

An Inspiring Career of More Than 20 Years at One Company

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 18:25:36 +0000

Working at the same company for more than 20 years, continuously developing yourself, and never losing any enthusiasm for innovation? How that works is shown in this fascinating interview with Romano Roth, Chief of DevOps and Partner at Zühlke Group. In this Career Design Interview, Romano explains the role that a growth mindset, curiosity, self-reflection, and the company’s feedback culture play.

Participatory budgeting: next level financing

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 16:22:25 +0000

One size fits all? Nothing of the sort! Participatory budgeting calls for a tailored solution, one that can constantly evolve and adapt to the given situation. In this article, we describe how we do it at Zühlke.

What is SAFe® for DevOps Course?

Sat, 12 Mar 2022 17:58:51 +0000

The SAFe® for DevOps training is an assessment or a workshop that is ideally suited for teams. Why? Because the focus is on driving the value stream of these teams. Addressing questions, challenges, and any potential obstacles - we can work on the training to provide value to them. We will give them the theory input of what exactly DevOps is.

Participatory Budgeting V2.0: Next Level Financing

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 06:42:10 +0000

Together with my colleague Nadine, I presented an updated version of our participatory budgeting approach. We had already shared the first version at a previous event, but since then we made significant changes that we wanted to share. A quick disclaimer: we did not invent participatory budgeting. We built on the materials from the SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework), so you will find the copyright on the relevant slides. If you want to introduce participatory budgeting in your own organization, we are happy to share our experience and always reference the original SAFe materials.

What It's Like to Work for the Same Company for More Than 20 Years

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 06:18:24 +0000

On February 1, 2002, I started my journey at Zühlke as a junior software engineer. Twenty years later, I am still here. In this post, I want to share what those 20 years looked like, what kept me going, and why I plan to stay for at least another 20.

How to start a DevOps transformation

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 18:20:54 +0000

At first glance, a DevOps transformation seems to be a major undertaking for any company. But with the right approach, you can keep the process lean and agile.

Insight in brief
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Start small with a small to medium sized project or product.
Select the right people to ensure sufficient credibility and influence.
Continuous improvement is key to success.

How to Build a Winning DevOps Team

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000

A DevOps transformation is not magic. Any company can do it. What makes the difference is who you put on the first team — because that team has to deliver the proof that DevOps actually works in your context.

How to Survive Game of Thrones: What Westeros Teaches Us About Conflict, Violence, and Personal Resilience

Wed, 05 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Game of Thrones is more than epic fantasy. The series shows in exaggerated form how violence, power, revenge, and ideologies drive conflict.

What This Talk Covers
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In this talk, Romano Roth uses the world of Westeros as a mirror for real human dynamics: from the “five demons” of violence to the “four angels” like empathy, self-control, morality, and reason. Building on this, central conflict types, escalation levels, and de-escalation strategies are presented, complemented by personal survival strategies like meditation and regeneration.