DORA, Measuring Software ROI & Choosing The Right Metrics | Dr. Nicole Forsgren In The Engineering Room Ep. 29
May 26, 2024
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Dr. Nicole Forsgren, tech exec and author, discusses measuring software ROI and choosing metrics. Topics incl. DORA impact, future of software engineering, and data influence. Exploring software development measurement challenges and optimizing metrics. Importance of architectural guidelines in cloud environments, persuasion in new approaches, and balancing craft and engineering in software development. Emphasizing fast feedback and incremental progress for growth.
Optimizing for quick feedback and small, validated steps is crucial in building better software faster.
Data-driven research and metrics like the State of DevOps report enhance software development practices and methodologies.
Effective organizational change through data-driven insights requires nuanced approaches involving active listening and addressing stakeholder concerns.
Deep dives
Evolution of Software Development Practices
Software development practices have evolved significantly over the years, from the dominance of waterfall methodology to the current consensus on incremental steps, fast feedback, and continuous delivery. This approach, highlighted in the podcast, emphasizes small, validated steps and optimizing for quick feedback, all aimed at building better software faster. While the underlying technical capabilities and principles are vital, the specific technologies or languages used are less critical, marking a fundamental shift in problem-solving approaches in the industry.
Data-Driven Research and Industry Impact
The discussion delves into the significance of data-driven research in software development, particularly focusing on metrics that are generic and actionable, guiding organizations towards improved practices. The research conducted, exemplified by the State of DevOps report, offers a scientifically justifiable study of software development practices, providing a foundation for reasoning about effective methodologies. By aligning industry thought leaders and fostering a broad consensus on best practices, the research contributes to enhancing the intellectual grounding of the discipline.
Challenges in Implementing Change Through Data
While leveraging data is crucial in advocating for new approaches, especially in software development, it is acknowledged that presenting data alone may not always suffice to sway skeptics or encourage adoption of innovative ideas. Convincing individuals to embrace change often necessitates more than just data presentation, requiring a nuanced approach that involves active listening, understanding different perspectives, addressing blockers, and resonating with the values or concerns of stakeholders. Successfully bridging the gap between data-driven insights and organizational change involves navigating diverse challenges and tailoring persuasive strategies to specific contexts.
Importance of Understanding and Addressing Stakeholder Needs
It is vital to understand the specific needs and concerns of stakeholders when trying to introduce changes or improvements in a work environment. Decision-makers need to consider how to communicate effectively to address issues that resonate with the stakeholders. It is crucial to tailor discussions and solutions to focus on solving the problems that stakeholders perceive rather than imposing solutions from a different perspective. By appealing to authorities or sharing stories instead of just data, and identifying problems that can be solved using suitable techniques, individuals can enhance their influence and effectively engage stakeholders.
Introduction of the 'Space' Framework to Measure Work Impact
The 'Space' framework was developed to assist individuals in measuring the impact of their work effectively. By emphasizing the importance of having multiple metrics in tension with each other, the framework guides individuals to use different dimensions to gauge progress and performance. It encourages the selection of metrics in areas such as satisfaction, performance, activity, communication and collaboration, and efficiency and flow, to ensure a comprehensive assessment. By considering these diverse factors and ensuring continuous improvement based on data-driven insights, individuals can establish a robust system for tracking and enhancing the impact of their work.
In this episode of the Engineering Room, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Nicole Forsgren. Dr. Forsgren is is an American technology executive, IT impact expert, and author. She joins Dave to talk about software developer productivity metrics, DORA, her part in one of the most impactful industry leading book's “accelerate”, her predictions for the future of software engineering under the influence of science and data and MUCH MORE.
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