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Guerilla InnerSource in enterprises, during the...

Guerilla InnerSource in enterprises, during the AI hype

Many developers want to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and developer productivity—especially when those developers are their own colleagues. But do their companies really care? Despite the endless DevOps and developer productivity slidedecks, not everyone has a strategy beyond "let's form another task force" or "let's have another weekly meeting" from management. Can a single engineer actually introduce InnerSource and change how work gets done in a big enterprise? Maybe! Can they burnout in the process? Well, let's talk...

We'll discuss introducing an open collaboration culture, also known as InnerSource, inside rigid corporate structures that are not willing to change. The ongoing AI hype can be a great leverage—an excuse to form internal guilds, secure funding, and get executive attention for collaboration and productivity initiatives. How to get started without a budget or official blessing from higher ups? How to find allies and not burn too many bridges? And how to show impact when everyone's obsessed with KPIs?

Avatar for Oleg Nenashev

Oleg Nenashev PRO

October 03, 2025
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  1. Disclaimer • This is not an AI talk • I

    am at this conference as independent, #OpenToWork • Opinions are my own • I am not talking about any my past or current companies speakerdeck.com/onenashev
  2. About Me @oleg_nenashev oleg-nenashev Dr. Nenashev / Mr. Jenkins Serial

    Community Builder Developer Tools Developer / Maintainer DevRel consultant #RussiansAgainstPutin #StandWithUkraine
  3. About You Do you REGULARLY improve… • Your own productivity?

    • Your team’s productivity? • Your company’s productivity?
  4. TL;DR: My talk is 1. DevOps collaboration culture is The

    Rebellion 2. InnerSource is a core part of it 3. There are some tips how to adopt it
  5. Popular Synonyms in Organizations • Slack Channel • Guild •

    Community of Practice (CoP) • Interest Group • <Something> Council • // Your Options?
  6. My Open [and not so] Communities Time * Once a

    contributor, [almost] always a contributor • Automation Guilds • Internal Services & Shared Documentation • Cross-University collaborations • Industry and Academia Partnerships
  7. InnerSource is a software development strategy in which companies adopt

    an open source approach and culture to collaborate more effectively. https://about.gitlab.com/topics/versi on-control/what-is-innersource/
  8. InnerSource is a software development strategy in which companies adopt

    an open source approach and culture to collaborate more effectively. https://about.gitlab.com/topics/versi on-control/what-is-innersource/
  9. My definition InnerSource is a <...> which companies adopt an

    open source approach to collaborate more effectively. • Strategy • Culture • Practices • Tools
  10. Stereotypical “Enterprise Companies” • Resistance to change • Complicated Processes

    and Red Tape • Top-to-bottom decision making • Company Politics • Little exec support for REAL innovation https://barbaraburgess.com/2018/5-ne arly-free-guerrilla-marketing-tactics/
  11. Steady Community Builder • Uphill battles • Have no budget?

    • Mostly spare time? • Red Tape everywhere? Community Beaver
  12. Guerrilla marketing is an advertisement strategy in which a company

    uses surprise and/or unconventional interactions to promote a product or service culture investopedia.com/terms/g/guerrilla-marketing.asp
  13. Reports on AI Adoption / RoI • DORA: https://dora.dev/research/ai/ •

    Reports by DX: https://getdx.com/resources/ • Lead Dev Summary https://leaddev.com/the-ai-impact-report-2025 TL;DR? Good Summary by Laura Tacho: https://newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/measurin g-the-impact-of-ai-on-software
  14. AI-assisted development, not Generative AI Laura Tacho, DX / Atlassian:

    https://newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/measuring-the-impact-of-ai-on-software
  15. Advanced Organisations, with ±60% AI adoption Laura Tacho, DX /

    Atlassian: https://getdx.com/podcast/ai-impact-leaddev-conference/
  16. “Non-AI Factors outweight AI Benefits” Laura Tacho, DX / Atlassian:

    https://newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/ measuring-the-impact-of-ai-on-software
  17. Show the Value. Keywords • Developer Productivity • Shift Left

    • Efficiency & Reuse • Time to Market / MTTR • DORA Metrics improvement • Marketing / DevRel / Product Led Growth • ...
  18. Building an Internal Community • Culture Change is slow but

    possible. DevEx / DevOps is a good entry point • Developer Productivity is a cross-functional effort • Think InnerSource • Do not go alone • Show value food for thought
  19. Internal communities are great for YOU • Side projects!!! •

    Leadership practice • Learning new things together • Building Network • Influence in the company 72
  20. One small step… 1. Join a productivity / DevX group

    in your organization OR 1. Start a new one