Measuring Developers Isn’t Tyranny

Informing someone that you want to “measure” them is not a great way to start a conversation. Software developers, like all people, tend to look unfavorably upon having their performance closely measured. But measuring developers is one of the hottest trends for companies around the globe. So is it tyranny to measure people?

People are quick to note that numbers don’t tell the whole story and can become defensive at the notion their productivity should be quantified somehow. This resistance can become even more entrenched when teams become stacked against each other.

Many leaders — like Netflix’s Kathryn Koehler — believe we should absolutely avoid stack ranking of individuals and teams. After all, the human elements of teams — communication, coordination, leadership — can all affect the speed or perceived productivity of a team or process, so how can you quantify that?

Thankfully, plenty of tools exist to enable a data-driven approach to the development process. With the right approach, these tools can be used to enhance any individual’s or team’s performance. Beyond performance, when applied correctly, these tools can bring about a more harmonious alignment between leadership and employees.

But first, why do we measure?

Why measure at all?

It’s important to remember that measuring is just a tool — it can be used for both good and for evil. An effective leadership team understands this basic fact. The cool…