In this episode of the LEAD Podcast, Geert van der Cruijsen and Rene van Osnabrugge talk about the complex topic of measuring productivity in an engineering culture. They discuss the often heard needs among managers to quantify developer productivity. They discuss the limitations of traditional Agile metrics like team velocity, which can be misleading when used outside their intended context.
Geert and Rene emphasize the importance of understanding the 'why' behind the need for metrics, comparing traditional waterfall approaches with modern Agile practices. They discuss the value of DORA metrics, which focus on broader value-producing measures like release frequency and change failure rates, and the necessity of combining these with business-focused objectives and key results (OKRs). The conversation also touches on the SPACE framework, which includes metrics on satisfaction, performance, collaboration, and efficiency, offering a more holistic view of team productivity.
Tune in for a good discussion on metrics!