diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ConfigurationService.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ConfigurationService.java
index 150af208bd..f13ae118f8 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ConfigurationService.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/ConfigurationService.java
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.client.CustomResource;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.monitoring.Metrics;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Reconciler;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.DependentResourceFactory;
 
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.JsonProcessingException;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper;
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ public interface ConfigurationService {
   ObjectMapper OBJECT_MAPPER = new ObjectMapper();
 
   Cloner DEFAULT_CLONER = new Cloner() {
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     @Override
     public HasMetadata clone(HasMetadata object) {
       try {
@@ -126,4 +128,8 @@ default boolean closeClientOnStop() {
   default ObjectMapper getObjectMapper() {
     return OBJECT_MAPPER;
   }
+
+  default DependentResourceFactory dependentResourceFactory() {
+    return new DependentResourceFactory() {};
+  }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/AbstractDependentResource.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/AbstractDependentResource.java
index 0a750d836c..799355185c 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/AbstractDependentResource.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/AbstractDependentResource.java
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ private RecentOperationCacheFiller<R> eventSourceAsRecentOperationCacheFiller()
     return (RecentOperationCacheFiller<R>) ((EventSourceProvider<P>) this).getEventSource();
   }
 
+  @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
   // this cannot be done in constructor since event source might be initialized later
   protected boolean isFilteringEventSource() {
     if (this instanceof EventSourceProvider) {
@@ -135,6 +136,7 @@ protected boolean isFilteringEventSource() {
     }
   }
 
+  @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
   // this cannot be done in constructor since event source might be initialized later
   protected boolean isRecentOperationCacheFiller() {
     if (this instanceof EventSourceProvider) {
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/DependentResourceFactory.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/DependentResourceFactory.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ffd0ba496f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/DependentResourceFactory.java
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent;
+
+import java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException;
+
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.dependent.DependentResourceSpec;
+
+public interface DependentResourceFactory {
+
+  default <T extends DependentResource<?, ?>> T createFrom(DependentResourceSpec<T, ?> spec) {
+    try {
+      return spec.getDependentResourceClass().getConstructor().newInstance();
+    } catch (InstantiationException | NoSuchMethodException | IllegalAccessException
+        | InvocationTargetException e) {
+      throw new IllegalArgumentException("Cannot instantiate DependentResource "
+          + spec.getDependentResourceClass().getCanonicalName(), e);
+    }
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/ResourceTypeAware.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/ResourceTypeAware.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e83d39aebd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/reconciler/dependent/ResourceTypeAware.java
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent;
+
+public interface ResourceTypeAware<R> {
+
+  Class<R> resourceType();
+}
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/Controller.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/Controller.java
index 5fc1b9ede7..de71d54171 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/Controller.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/Controller.java
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import java.util.LinkedList;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
@@ -18,9 +19,11 @@
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.OperatorException;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.ConfigurationServiceProvider;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.ControllerConfiguration;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.dependent.DependentResourceSpec;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.monitoring.Metrics;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.monitoring.Metrics.ControllerExecution;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Context;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.ContextInitializer;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.DeleteControl;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.EventSourceContext;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.EventSourceInitializer;
@@ -28,11 +31,13 @@
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Reconciler;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.UpdateControl;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.DependentResource;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent.DependentResourceManager;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.DependentResourceConfigurator;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.EventSourceProvider;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.KubernetesClientAware;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.EventSourceManager;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.EventSource;
 
-@SuppressWarnings({"unchecked"})
+@SuppressWarnings({"unchecked", "rawtypes"})
 @Ignore
 public class Controller<P extends HasMetadata> implements Reconciler<P>,
     LifecycleAware, EventSourceInitializer<P> {
@@ -43,7 +48,8 @@ public class Controller<P extends HasMetadata> implements Reconciler<P>,
   private final ControllerConfiguration<P> configuration;
   private final KubernetesClient kubernetesClient;
   private final EventSourceManager<P> eventSourceManager;
-  private final DependentResourceManager<P> dependents;
+  private final List<DependentResource> dependents;
+  private final boolean contextInitializer;
 
   public Controller(Reconciler<P> reconciler,
       ControllerConfiguration<P> configuration,
@@ -51,14 +57,42 @@ public Controller(Reconciler<P> reconciler,
     this.reconciler = reconciler;
     this.configuration = configuration;
     this.kubernetesClient = kubernetesClient;
+    contextInitializer = reconciler instanceof ContextInitializer;
 
     eventSourceManager = new EventSourceManager<>(this);
-    dependents = new DependentResourceManager<>(this);
+
+    dependents = configuration.getDependentResources().stream()
+        .map(drs -> createAndConfigureFrom(drs, kubernetesClient))
+        .collect(Collectors.toList());
+  }
+
+  @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
+  private DependentResource createAndConfigureFrom(DependentResourceSpec spec,
+      KubernetesClient client) {
+    final var dependentResource =
+        ConfigurationServiceProvider.instance().dependentResourceFactory().createFrom(spec);
+
+    if (dependentResource instanceof KubernetesClientAware) {
+      ((KubernetesClientAware) dependentResource).setKubernetesClient(client);
+    }
+
+    if (dependentResource instanceof DependentResourceConfigurator) {
+      final var configurator = (DependentResourceConfigurator) dependentResource;
+      spec.getDependentResourceConfiguration().ifPresent(configurator::configureWith);
+    }
+    return dependentResource;
+  }
+
+  private void initContextIfNeeded(P resource, Context<P> context) {
+    if (contextInitializer) {
+      ((ContextInitializer<P>) reconciler).initContext(resource, context);
+    }
   }
 
   @Override
   public DeleteControl cleanup(P resource, Context<P> context) {
-    dependents.cleanup(resource, context);
+    initContextIfNeeded(resource, context);
+    dependents.forEach(dependent -> dependent.cleanup(resource, context));
 
     try {
       return metrics().timeControllerExecution(
@@ -90,7 +124,8 @@ public DeleteControl execute() {
 
   @Override
   public UpdateControl<P> reconcile(P resource, Context<P> context) throws Exception {
-    dependents.reconcile(resource, context);
+    initContextIfNeeded(resource, context);
+    dependents.forEach(dependent -> dependent.reconcile(resource, context));
 
     return metrics().timeControllerExecution(
         new ControllerExecution<>() {
@@ -131,8 +166,12 @@ private Metrics metrics() {
 
   @Override
   public List<EventSource> prepareEventSources(EventSourceContext<P> context) {
-    final var dependentSources = dependents.prepareEventSources(context);
-    List<EventSource> sources = new LinkedList<>(dependentSources);
+    List<EventSource> sources = new LinkedList<>();
+    dependents.stream()
+        .filter(dependentResource -> dependentResource instanceof EventSourceProvider)
+        .map(EventSourceProvider.class::cast)
+        .map(provider -> provider.initEventSource(context))
+        .forEach(sources::add);
 
     // add manually defined event sources
     if (reconciler instanceof EventSourceInitializer) {
@@ -267,6 +306,6 @@ public void stop() {
 
   @SuppressWarnings("rawtypes")
   public List<DependentResource> getDependents() {
-    return dependents.getDependents();
+    return dependents;
   }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/DependentResourceManager.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/DependentResourceManager.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 3dd3a2860e..0000000000
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/DependentResourceManager.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,112 +0,0 @@
-package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent;
-
-import java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException;
-import java.util.ArrayList;
-import java.util.List;
-import java.util.stream.Collectors;
-
-import org.slf4j.Logger;
-import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
-
-import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.HasMetadata;
-import io.fabric8.kubernetes.client.KubernetesClient;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.ControllerConfiguration;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.dependent.DependentResourceSpec;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Context;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.ContextInitializer;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.DeleteControl;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.EventSourceContext;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.EventSourceInitializer;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Ignore;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Reconciler;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.UpdateControl;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.DependentResource;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.DependentResourceConfigurator;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.EventSourceProvider;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.KubernetesClientAware;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.Controller;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.EventSource;
-
-@SuppressWarnings({"rawtypes", "unchecked"})
-@Ignore
-public class DependentResourceManager<P extends HasMetadata>
-    implements EventSourceInitializer<P>, Reconciler<P> {
-
-  private static final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(DependentResourceManager.class);
-
-  private final Reconciler<P> reconciler;
-  private final ControllerConfiguration<P> controllerConfiguration;
-  private List<DependentResource> dependents;
-
-  public DependentResourceManager(Controller<P> controller) {
-    this.reconciler = controller.getReconciler();
-    this.controllerConfiguration = controller.getConfiguration();
-  }
-
-  @Override
-  public List<EventSource> prepareEventSources(EventSourceContext<P> context) {
-    final var dependentResources = controllerConfiguration.getDependentResources();
-    final var sources = new ArrayList<EventSource>(dependentResources.size());
-    dependents =
-        dependentResources.stream()
-            .map(
-                drc -> {
-                  final var dependentResource = createAndConfigureFrom(drc, context.getClient());
-                  if (dependentResource instanceof EventSourceProvider) {
-                    EventSourceProvider provider = (EventSourceProvider) dependentResource;
-                    sources.add(provider.initEventSource(context));
-                  }
-                  return dependentResource;
-                })
-            .collect(Collectors.toList());
-    return sources;
-  }
-
-  @Override
-  public UpdateControl<P> reconcile(P resource, Context<P> context) {
-    initContextIfNeeded(resource, context);
-    dependents.forEach(dependent -> dependent.reconcile(resource, context));
-    return UpdateControl.noUpdate();
-  }
-
-  @Override
-  public DeleteControl cleanup(P resource, Context<P> context) {
-    initContextIfNeeded(resource, context);
-    dependents.forEach(dependent -> dependent.cleanup(resource, context));
-    return Reconciler.super.cleanup(resource, context);
-  }
-
-  private void initContextIfNeeded(P resource, Context context) {
-    if (reconciler instanceof ContextInitializer) {
-      final var initializer = (ContextInitializer<P>) reconciler;
-      initializer.initContext(resource, context);
-    }
-  }
-
-  private DependentResource createAndConfigureFrom(DependentResourceSpec dependentResourceSpec,
-      KubernetesClient client) {
-    try {
-      DependentResource dependentResource =
-          (DependentResource) dependentResourceSpec.getDependentResourceClass()
-              .getConstructor().newInstance();
-
-      if (dependentResource instanceof KubernetesClientAware) {
-        ((KubernetesClientAware) dependentResource).setKubernetesClient(client);
-      }
-
-      if (dependentResource instanceof DependentResourceConfigurator) {
-        final var configurator = (DependentResourceConfigurator) dependentResource;
-        dependentResourceSpec.getDependentResourceConfiguration()
-            .ifPresent(configurator::configureWith);
-      }
-      return dependentResource;
-    } catch (InstantiationException | NoSuchMethodException | IllegalAccessException
-        | InvocationTargetException e) {
-      throw new IllegalStateException(e);
-    }
-  }
-
-  public List<DependentResource> getDependents() {
-    return dependents;
-  }
-}
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/external/AbstractCachingDependentResource.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/external/AbstractCachingDependentResource.java
index 86f2c23d54..04b49bf0bf 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/external/AbstractCachingDependentResource.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/external/AbstractCachingDependentResource.java
@@ -3,16 +3,22 @@
 import java.util.Optional;
 
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.HasMetadata;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.Utils;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.AbstractDependentResource;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.EventSourceProvider;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.ResourceTypeAware;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.ExternalResourceCachingEventSource;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.EventSource;
 
 public abstract class AbstractCachingDependentResource<R, P extends HasMetadata>
-    extends AbstractDependentResource<R, P> implements EventSourceProvider<P> {
+    extends AbstractDependentResource<R, P>
+    implements EventSourceProvider<P>, ResourceTypeAware<R> {
 
   protected ExternalResourceCachingEventSource<R, P> eventSource;
+  private final Class<R> resourceType;
+
+  protected AbstractCachingDependentResource(Class<R> resourceType) {
+    this.resourceType = resourceType;
+  }
 
   public Optional<R> fetchResource(P primaryResource) {
     return eventSource.getAssociated(primaryResource);
@@ -23,8 +29,9 @@ public EventSource getEventSource() {
     return eventSource;
   }
 
-  protected Class<R> resourceType() {
-    return (Class<R>) Utils.getFirstTypeArgumentFromExtendedClass(getClass());
+  @Override
+  public Class<R> resourceType() {
+    return resourceType;
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/external/AbstractPollingDependentResource.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/external/AbstractPollingDependentResource.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8c91dea15d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/external/AbstractPollingDependentResource.java
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent.external;
+
+import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.HasMetadata;
+
+public abstract class AbstractPollingDependentResource<R, P extends HasMetadata>
+    extends AbstractCachingDependentResource<R, P> {
+
+  public static final int DEFAULT_POLLING_PERIOD = 5000;
+  private long pollingPeriod;
+
+  protected AbstractPollingDependentResource(Class<R> resourceType) {
+    this(resourceType, DEFAULT_POLLING_PERIOD);
+  }
+
+  public AbstractPollingDependentResource(Class<R> resourceType, long pollingPeriod) {
+    super(resourceType);
+    this.pollingPeriod = pollingPeriod;
+  }
+
+  public void setPollingPeriod(long pollingPeriod) {
+    this.pollingPeriod = pollingPeriod;
+  }
+
+  public long getPollingPeriod() {
+    return pollingPeriod;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/external/PerResourcePollingDependentResource.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/external/PerResourcePollingDependentResource.java
index c5f9e2c888..11b18832a7 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/external/PerResourcePollingDependentResource.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/external/PerResourcePollingDependentResource.java
@@ -5,36 +5,21 @@
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.EventSource;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.polling.PerResourcePollingEventSource;
 
-import static io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent.external.PollingDependentResource.DEFAULT_POLLING_PERIOD;
-
 public abstract class PerResourcePollingDependentResource<R, P extends HasMetadata>
-    extends AbstractCachingDependentResource<R, P>
+    extends AbstractPollingDependentResource<R, P>
     implements PerResourcePollingEventSource.ResourceFetcher<R, P> {
-
-  protected long pollingPeriod;
-
-  public PerResourcePollingDependentResource() {
-    this(DEFAULT_POLLING_PERIOD);
+  public PerResourcePollingDependentResource(Class<R> resourceType) {
+    super(resourceType);
   }
 
-  public PerResourcePollingDependentResource(long pollingPeriod) {
-    this.pollingPeriod = pollingPeriod;
+  public PerResourcePollingDependentResource(Class<R> resourceType, long pollingPeriod) {
+    super(resourceType, pollingPeriod);
   }
 
   @Override
   public EventSource initEventSource(EventSourceContext<P> context) {
     eventSource = new PerResourcePollingEventSource<>(this, context.getPrimaryCache(),
-        pollingPeriod, resourceType());
+        getPollingPeriod(), resourceType());
     return eventSource;
   }
-
-  public PerResourcePollingDependentResource<R, P> setPollingPeriod(long pollingPeriod) {
-    this.pollingPeriod = pollingPeriod;
-    return this;
-  }
-
-  public long getPollingPeriod() {
-    return pollingPeriod;
-  }
-
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/external/PollingDependentResource.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/external/PollingDependentResource.java
index 18e0c66b60..58723a6f11 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/external/PollingDependentResource.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/external/PollingDependentResource.java
@@ -10,27 +10,19 @@
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.polling.PollingEventSource;
 
 public abstract class PollingDependentResource<R, P extends HasMetadata>
-    extends AbstractCachingDependentResource<R, P> implements Supplier<Map<ResourceID, R>> {
+    extends AbstractPollingDependentResource<R, P> implements Supplier<Map<ResourceID, R>> {
 
-  public static final int DEFAULT_POLLING_PERIOD = 5000;
-  protected long pollingPeriod;
-
-  public PollingDependentResource() {
-    this(DEFAULT_POLLING_PERIOD);
+  public PollingDependentResource(Class<R> resourceType) {
+    super(resourceType);
   }
 
-  public PollingDependentResource(long pollingPeriod) {
-    this.pollingPeriod = pollingPeriod;
+  public PollingDependentResource(Class<R> resourceType, long pollingPeriod) {
+    super(resourceType, pollingPeriod);
   }
 
   @Override
   public EventSource initEventSource(EventSourceContext<P> context) {
-    eventSource = new PollingEventSource<>(this, pollingPeriod, resourceType());
+    eventSource = new PollingEventSource<>(this, getPollingPeriod(), resourceType());
     return eventSource;
   }
-
-  public PollingDependentResource<R, P> setPollingPeriod(long pollingPeriod) {
-    this.pollingPeriod = pollingPeriod;
-    return this;
-  }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/CrudKubernetesDependentResource.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/CrudKubernetesDependentResource.java
index 88e9bdc7ae..b363e81b51 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/CrudKubernetesDependentResource.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/CrudKubernetesDependentResource.java
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@
  * @param <P> Primary Resource
  */
 public abstract class CrudKubernetesDependentResource<R extends HasMetadata, P extends HasMetadata>
-    extends
-    KubernetesDependentResource<R, P> implements Creator<R, P>, Updater<R, P>, Deleter<P> {
+    extends KubernetesDependentResource<R, P>
+    implements Creator<R, P>, Updater<R, P>, Deleter<P> {
+
+  public CrudKubernetesDependentResource(Class<R> resourceType) {
+    super(resourceType);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependentResource.java b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependentResource.java
index 7ceadaf13c..9439d74865 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependentResource.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/KubernetesDependentResource.java
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.client.KubernetesClient;
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.client.dsl.NonNamespaceOperation;
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.client.dsl.Resource;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.Utils;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config.informer.InformerConfiguration;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Context;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.EventSourceContext;
@@ -21,6 +20,7 @@
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.KubernetesClientAware;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.Matcher;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.Matcher.Result;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.ResourceTypeAware;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.ResourceUpdatePreProcessor;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.ResourceID;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.event.source.EventSource;
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 
 public abstract class KubernetesDependentResource<R extends HasMetadata, P extends HasMetadata>
     extends AbstractDependentResource<R, P>
-    implements KubernetesClientAware, EventSourceProvider<P>,
+    implements KubernetesClientAware, EventSourceProvider<P>, ResourceTypeAware<R>,
     DependentResourceConfigurator<KubernetesDependentResourceConfig> {
 
   private static final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(KubernetesDependentResource.class);
@@ -41,15 +41,17 @@ public abstract class KubernetesDependentResource<R extends HasMetadata, P exten
   private boolean addOwnerReference;
   private final Matcher<R, P> matcher;
   private final ResourceUpdatePreProcessor<R> processor;
+  private final Class<R> resourceType;
 
   @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-  public KubernetesDependentResource() {
+  public KubernetesDependentResource(Class<R> resourceType) {
+    this.resourceType = resourceType;
     matcher = this instanceof Matcher ? (Matcher<R, P>) this
-        : GenericKubernetesResourceMatcher.matcherFor(resourceType(), this);
+        : GenericKubernetesResourceMatcher.matcherFor(resourceType, this);
 
     processor = this instanceof ResourceUpdatePreProcessor
         ? (ResourceUpdatePreProcessor<R>) this
-        : GenericResourceUpdatePreProcessor.processorFor(resourceType());
+        : GenericResourceUpdatePreProcessor.processorFor(resourceType);
   }
 
   @Override
@@ -140,9 +142,9 @@ public KubernetesDependentResource<R, P> setInformerEventSource(
     return this;
   }
 
-  @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-  protected Class<R> resourceType() {
-    return (Class<R>) Utils.getFirstTypeArgumentFromExtendedClass(getClass());
+  @Override
+  public Class<R> resourceType() {
+    return resourceType;
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/UtilsTest.java b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/UtilsTest.java
index 8895922e82..0a24d4f26d 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/UtilsTest.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/api/config/UtilsTest.java
@@ -1,14 +1,21 @@
 package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.config;
 
+import java.util.Optional;
+
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
 
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.apps.Deployment;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Context;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.DependentResource;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.ReconcileResult;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent.kubernetes.KubernetesDependentResource;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.sample.simple.TestCustomResource;
 
 import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
-import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.*;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertFalse;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertNotNull;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertNull;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertTrue;
 
 class UtilsTest {
 
@@ -75,12 +82,32 @@ void getsFirstTypeArgumentFromExtendedClass() {
     assertThat(res).isEqualTo(Deployment.class);
   }
 
-  public static class TestKubernetesDependentResource
-      extends KubernetesDependentResource<Deployment, TestCustomResource> {
+  @Test
+  void getsFirstTypeArgumentFromInterface() {
+    assertThat(Utils.getFirstTypeArgumentFromInterface(TestDependentResource.class))
+        .isEqualTo(Deployment.class);
+  }
+
+  public static class TestDependentResource
+      implements DependentResource<Deployment, TestCustomResource> {
 
     @Override
-    protected Deployment desired(TestCustomResource primary, Context<TestCustomResource> context) {
+    public ReconcileResult<Deployment> reconcile(TestCustomResource primary,
+        Context<TestCustomResource> context) {
       return null;
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public Optional<Deployment> getResource(TestCustomResource primaryResource) {
+      return Optional.empty();
+    }
+  }
+
+  public static class TestKubernetesDependentResource
+      extends KubernetesDependentResource<Deployment, TestCustomResource> {
+
+    public TestKubernetesDependentResource() {
+      super(Deployment.class);
+    }
   }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/GenericKubernetesResourceMatcherTest.java b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/GenericKubernetesResourceMatcherTest.java
index 1eb7ea1bb4..bad10d551d 100644
--- a/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/GenericKubernetesResourceMatcherTest.java
+++ b/operator-framework-core/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/processing/dependent/kubernetes/GenericKubernetesResourceMatcherTest.java
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ void checksIfDesiredValuesAreTheSame() {
     var actual = createDeployment();
     final var desired = createDeployment();
     final var matcher = GenericKubernetesResourceMatcher.matcherFor(Deployment.class,
-        new KubernetesDependentResource<>() {
+        new KubernetesDependentResource<>(Deployment.class) {
           @Override
           protected Deployment desired(HasMetadata primary, Context context) {
             final var currentCase = Optional.ofNullable(primary)
diff --git a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/readonly/ReadOnlyDependent.java b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/readonly/ReadOnlyDependent.java
index 0285d47b83..15fb02a0b6 100644
--- a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/readonly/ReadOnlyDependent.java
+++ b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/readonly/ReadOnlyDependent.java
@@ -4,4 +4,8 @@
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent.kubernetes.KubernetesDependentResource;
 
 public class ReadOnlyDependent extends KubernetesDependentResource<ConfigMap, ConfigMapReader> {
+
+  public ReadOnlyDependent() {
+    super(ConfigMap.class);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/standalonedependent/StandaloneDependentTestReconciler.java b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/standalonedependent/StandaloneDependentTestReconciler.java
index 4a236e6e00..e740032d6e 100644
--- a/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/standalonedependent/StandaloneDependentTestReconciler.java
+++ b/operator-framework/src/test/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/standalonedependent/StandaloneDependentTestReconciler.java
@@ -7,7 +7,14 @@
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.client.KubernetesClient;
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.client.KubernetesClientException;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.ReconcilerUtils;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.*;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Context;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.ControllerConfiguration;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.ErrorStatusHandler;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.ErrorStatusUpdateControl;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.EventSourceContext;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.EventSourceInitializer;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Reconciler;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.UpdateControl;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.Creator;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.Updater;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.junit.KubernetesClientAware;
@@ -86,6 +93,10 @@ private static class DeploymentDependentResource extends
       implements Creator<Deployment, StandaloneDependentTestCustomResource>,
       Updater<Deployment, StandaloneDependentTestCustomResource> {
 
+    public DeploymentDependentResource() {
+      super(Deployment.class);
+    }
+
     @Override
     protected Deployment desired(StandaloneDependentTestCustomResource primary,
         Context<StandaloneDependentTestCustomResource> context) {
diff --git a/sample-operators/mysql-schema/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/dependent/SchemaDependentResource.java b/sample-operators/mysql-schema/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/dependent/SchemaDependentResource.java
index f5a5e9ea18..273cd086a1 100644
--- a/sample-operators/mysql-schema/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/dependent/SchemaDependentResource.java
+++ b/sample-operators/mysql-schema/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/dependent/SchemaDependentResource.java
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.DependentResourceConfigurator;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.dependent.EventSourceProvider;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent.external.PerResourcePollingDependentResource;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.sample.*;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.sample.MySQLDbConfig;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.sample.MySQLSchema;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.sample.schema.Schema;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.sample.schema.SchemaService;
 
@@ -35,6 +36,10 @@ public class SchemaDependentResource
 
   private MySQLDbConfig dbConfig;
 
+  public SchemaDependentResource() {
+    super(Schema.class);
+  }
+
   @Override
   public void configureWith(ResourcePollerConfig config) {
     this.dbConfig = config.getMySQLDbConfig();
diff --git a/sample-operators/mysql-schema/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/dependent/SecretDependentResource.java b/sample-operators/mysql-schema/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/dependent/SecretDependentResource.java
index 15fff4d65e..60c4c4d2b0 100644
--- a/sample-operators/mysql-schema/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/dependent/SecretDependentResource.java
+++ b/sample-operators/mysql-schema/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/dependent/SecretDependentResource.java
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ public class SecretDependentResource extends KubernetesDependentResource<Secret,
   public static final String MYSQL_SECRET_USERNAME = "mysql.secret.user.name";
   public static final String MYSQL_SECRET_PASSWORD = "mysql.secret.user.password";
 
+  public SecretDependentResource() {
+    super(Secret.class);
+  }
+
   private static String encode(String value) {
     return Base64.getEncoder().encodeToString(value.getBytes());
   }
diff --git a/sample-operators/tomcat-operator/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/DeploymentDependentResource.java b/sample-operators/tomcat-operator/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/DeploymentDependentResource.java
index b408a07ac9..75632f3e69 100644
--- a/sample-operators/tomcat-operator/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/DeploymentDependentResource.java
+++ b/sample-operators/tomcat-operator/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/DeploymentDependentResource.java
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@
 public class DeploymentDependentResource extends KubernetesDependentResource<Deployment, Tomcat>
     implements Creator<Deployment, Tomcat>, Updater<Deployment, Tomcat> {
 
+  public DeploymentDependentResource() {
+    super(Deployment.class);
+  }
+
   private static String tomcatImage(Tomcat tomcat) {
     return "tomcat:" + tomcat.getSpec().getVersion();
   }
diff --git a/sample-operators/tomcat-operator/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/ServiceDependentResource.java b/sample-operators/tomcat-operator/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/ServiceDependentResource.java
index 3b618906ab..c52553851d 100644
--- a/sample-operators/tomcat-operator/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/ServiceDependentResource.java
+++ b/sample-operators/tomcat-operator/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/ServiceDependentResource.java
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@
 public class ServiceDependentResource extends KubernetesDependentResource<Service, Tomcat>
     implements Creator<Service, Tomcat>, Updater<Service, Tomcat> {
 
+  public ServiceDependentResource() {
+    super(Service.class);
+  }
+
   @Override
   protected Service desired(Tomcat tomcat, Context<Tomcat> context) {
     final ObjectMeta tomcatMetadata = tomcat.getMetadata();
diff --git a/sample-operators/webpage/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/WebPageReconcilerDependentResources.java b/sample-operators/webpage/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/WebPageReconcilerDependentResources.java
index d9efec3b19..90f747d158 100644
--- a/sample-operators/webpage/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/WebPageReconcilerDependentResources.java
+++ b/sample-operators/webpage/src/main/java/io/javaoperatorsdk/operator/sample/WebPageReconcilerDependentResources.java
@@ -1,15 +1,27 @@
 package io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.sample;
 
-import java.util.*;
+import java.util.HashMap;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
 
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
-import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.*;
+import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.ConfigMap;
+import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.ConfigMapBuilder;
+import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.ConfigMapVolumeSourceBuilder;
+import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.ObjectMetaBuilder;
+import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.Service;
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.api.model.apps.Deployment;
 import io.fabric8.kubernetes.client.KubernetesClient;
-import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.*;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Context;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.ControllerConfiguration;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.ErrorStatusHandler;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.ErrorStatusUpdateControl;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.EventSourceContext;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.EventSourceInitializer;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.Reconciler;
+import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.api.reconciler.UpdateControl;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent.kubernetes.CrudKubernetesDependentResource;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent.kubernetes.KubernetesDependentResource;
 import io.javaoperatorsdk.operator.processing.dependent.kubernetes.KubernetesDependentResourceConfig;
@@ -88,7 +100,7 @@ private void createDependentResources(KubernetesClient client) {
         .setLabelSelector(DEPENDENT_RESOURCE_LABEL_SELECTOR));
 
     this.deploymentDR =
-        new CrudKubernetesDependentResource<>() {
+        new CrudKubernetesDependentResource<>(Deployment.class) {
 
           @Override
           protected Deployment desired(WebPage webPage, Context<WebPage> context) {
@@ -114,18 +126,13 @@ protected Deployment desired(WebPage webPage, Context<WebPage> context) {
                     new ConfigMapVolumeSourceBuilder().withName(configMapName(webPage)).build());
             return deployment;
           }
-
-          @Override
-          protected Class<Deployment> resourceType() {
-            return Deployment.class;
-          }
         };
     deploymentDR.setKubernetesClient(client);
     deploymentDR.configureWith(new KubernetesDependentResourceConfig()
         .setLabelSelector(DEPENDENT_RESOURCE_LABEL_SELECTOR));
 
     this.serviceDR =
-        new CrudKubernetesDependentResource<>() {
+        new CrudKubernetesDependentResource<>(Service.class) {
 
           @Override
           protected Service desired(WebPage webPage, Context<WebPage> context) {
@@ -137,11 +144,6 @@ protected Service desired(WebPage webPage, Context<WebPage> context) {
             service.getSpec().setSelector(labels);
             return service;
           }
-
-          @Override
-          protected Class<Service> resourceType() {
-            return Service.class;
-          }
         };
     serviceDR.setKubernetesClient(client);
     serviceDR.configureWith(new KubernetesDependentResourceConfig()
@@ -162,8 +164,11 @@ public static String serviceName(WebPage webPage) {
 
   private class ConfigMapDependentResource
       extends CrudKubernetesDependentResource<ConfigMap, WebPage>
-      implements
-      PrimaryToSecondaryMapper<WebPage> {
+      implements PrimaryToSecondaryMapper<WebPage> {
+
+    public ConfigMapDependentResource() {
+      super(ConfigMap.class);
+    }
 
     @Override
     protected ConfigMap desired(WebPage webPage, Context<WebPage> context) {