Metric selection

Choosing the right metrics prevents teams from tracking unnecessary data. It’s recommended to use SMART metrics that are:

• Specific (clear numbers)
• Measurable (easy to count)
• Actionable (can improve them)
• Relevant (matter to goals)
• Time-bound (tracked over specific periods)

For example, "reduce bug fix time by 20% this quarter" is better than "fix bugs faster."

Limit your key metrics to 5-7 total. Having too many metrics makes teams lose focus and wastes time on data collection. For example, a good combination could include: sprint completion rate, cycle time, customer satisfaction, bug escape rate, and team happiness.

Make sure each metric drives specific improvements and match metrics to team goals. Having aligned metrics helps teams make better decisions about where to focus their efforts.^[1]