Imagine you’re the captain of a pirate ship.
Would you measure success by how much rum your crew drinks?
(If so, congratulations, you now run a failed startup.)
Agile metrics are the same. They’re supposed to steer you toward better outcomes, not just look impressive on a slide deck.
The trick? Measure what matters, not just what’s easy to count.
Choose Your Compass Wisely
Metrics are tools, not trophies.
Velocity, cycle time, WIP – they’re great if you know when and how to use them. But just like you wouldn’t use a telescope to hammer in nails, picking the wrong metric (or over-obsessing about it) will leave you lost at sea.
MVPs of Agile Metrics
- Velocity: Good for forecasting. Terrible for judging team worth. Think of it like nautical miles per day, not who gets a bonus.
- Cycle Time: Measures how fast work moves from “started” to “done.” Great for spotting bottlenecks (or dead weight dragging the ship).
- Work In Progress (WIP): Tells you how overloaded your team is. More WIP = slower ship. WIP limits = smooth sailing.
Navigating Without Sinking the Crew
- Context Is King:
A dip in velocity could mean the team is slacking or that half the crew had scurvy (or PTO). Check before you start swinging swords. - Quality Over Quantity:
Delivering a ton of half-broken features is like bringing back a chest of fool’s gold. Impressive until everyone realizes it’s worthless. - Use Metrics as a Compass, Not a Whip:
If your metrics inspire dread, you’re doing it wrong. They should help teams improve, not fear performance reviews like a tribunal.
Chart Your Course, Adjust As You Go
You don’t need every metric right away.
Start small. See what gives you insight, not just information. Adjust based on what helps you actually improve, not what looks good in an all-hands meeting.
Because in Agile (and piracy), the real goal isn’t to look busy.
It’s to get somewhere that matters with your crew still willing to follow you.
Smooth sailing, Captains.