Software Stories

Software KPIs Are Not Meant to Penalize Developers

Don’t Abuse KPIs; Use It For Actual Purpose, Priority And Plan

Photo by Sabri Tuzcu on Unsplash

Peter Drucker’s assertion, “You can’t manage what you can’t measure,” resonates profoundly in the realm of business management, emphasizing the pivotal role of key performance indicators (KPIs). These metrics serve as vital tools across various fields, including Software Development.

However, KPIs have, regrettably, faced resistance from certain quarters of developers, who sometimes perceive them negatively and resort to gaming them to portray artificial success. This undermines the essence of KPIs, leading to the creation of increasingly complex metrics in a futile attempt to counteract manipulation, thus perpetuating a cycle of futile debates on what constitutes a meaningful KPI.

What causes this shift from simplicity to complexity in KPIs? Is it an inherent flaw in the metrics themselves, or is it a consequence of their misuse?

Below are three real software development stories that can shed some light.

Case 1: Server Uptime

Behind the scenes of our frontend systems lies the Backend for Frontend (BFF) service, acting as a direct interface for end users. This…