Creating good measurements
We originally saw the different types of measurements we can apply in Chapter 5, Measuring the Process and Solution, where we looked at measurements in three of the following areas:
- The development process
- The environment
- The customer value delivered
The set of metrics that can adequately cover these three areas of measurement are called Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
KPIs are metrics chosen to determine whether an individual, a team, a Value Stream or an Agile Release Train (ART) in our case is meeting its goals. KPIs are evaluated both at specific points in time as well as over a given time period to highlight trends and movements away from or toward a goal.
KPIs should be objective measurements and not subject to opinion or interpretation.
While looking at these measurements, we cautioned against using vanity metrics, which are measurements that yield good information but don’t really supply any meaningful data...