Enable javascript in your browser for better experience. Need to know to enable it? Go here.
radar blip
radar blip

Velocity as productivity

Last updated : Jan 28, 2015
NOT ON THE CURRENT EDITION
This blip is not on the current edition of the Radar. If it was on one of the last few editions, it is likely that it is still relevant. If the blip is older, it might no longer be relevant and our assessment might be different today. Unfortunately, we simply don't have the bandwidth to continuously review blips from previous editions of the Radar. Understand more
Jan 2015
Hold ? Proceed with caution

We continue to see teams and organizations equating velocity with productivity. When properly used, velocity allows the incorporation of \”yesterday's weather\” into a team’s internal iteration planning process. The key here is that velocity is an internal measure for a team, it is just a capacity estimate for that given team at that given time. Organizations and managers who equate internal velocity with external productivity start to set targets for velocity, forgetting that what actually matters is working software in production. Treating velocity as productivity leads to unproductive team behaviors that optimize this metric at the expense of actual working software.

Jul 2014
Hold ? Proceed with caution
Of all the approaches that we might disagree with, equating velocity with productivity has become so prevalent that we felt it important to call it out in our hold ring. When properly used, velocity allows the incorporation of "yesterday's weather" into the iteration planning process. Velocity is simply a capacity estimate for a given team at a given time. It can improve as a team gels or by fixing problems like technical debt or a flaky build server. However, like all metrics, it can be misused. For example, over-zealous project managers attempt to insist on continual improvement of velocity. Treating velocity as productivity leads to unproductive team behaviors that optimize the metric at the expense of actual working software.
Jan 2014
Hold ? Proceed with caution
Published : Jan 28, 2014

Download Technology Radar Volume 29

English | Español | Português | 中文

Stay informed about technology

 

Subscribe now

Visit our archive to read previous volumes