Five reasons why measuring software delivery productivity is critical for your business 

Are your teams under pressure to always deliver faster? Whether the pressure comes from your Chief Product Officer trying to take new products to market to keep up with competition or from the Chief Financial Officer trying to do more with less, everyone wants solutions to be delivered yesterday. 

In this context, taking the time to measure might seem counterintuitive, but it’s the key to long-term success.  

“We don’t even know how fast we’re going. We’ve improved but how do I know how we compare to our competitors?” (Anonymous but very real CTO) 

The good thing is that measuring productivity is now a well-trodden path. Frameworks like DORA and SPACE provide valuable insights into your whole software delivery process: 

  • The software delivery operating model itself 
  • The quality of the software produced 
  • The business outcomes the software is driving 

There’s no point going faster in the wrong direction! 

Let’s explore five compelling reasons why measuring software delivery productivity should be a key component of your business strategy. 

1. Deliver business outcomes

Measuring software delivery productivity impacts business success. Tracking and improving DORA metrics - like deployment frequency, lead time for changes, and change failure rate—encourages the adoption of advanced engineering practices. 

This leads to the frequent delivery of high-quality software, which is closely linked to accelerating how quickly businesses can take new or improved products and features to market, thereby improving commercial success.  

2. Gain greater visibility

One of the biggest challenges in software delivery is understanding where bottlenecks exist. Without visibility, teams may not even realise there’s a problem. When teams know what is slowing them down (“too many meetings!”) they can lack the urgency to address them.  

By putting the right metrics in the hands of teams, you empower them to identify and address inefficiencies. This visibility acts as the foundation for delivering meaningful improvements. 

3. Foster continuous improvement

Metrics are catalysts for critical conversations. For example, measuring the time it takes for pull requests to be reviewed or the wait time between development and QA can spark questions like: 

  • "Why are pull request reviews taking so long?" 
  • "Do all changes need to go through a Change Advisory Board (CAB)?" 

These discussions often lead to actionable suggestions for improvement. By embedding a culture of inquiry and iteration, teams foster continuous improvement in their processes and those of the wider business. 

4. Enable data-driven debate

In software development, heated debates often arise over operational concerns. Take this common example: 

"The pipeline is always broken!" 

Is it, though? Measuring pipeline failure rates and average build times can provide a definitive answer. Instead of wasting time in subjective debates, teams can rely on data to pinpoint problems—or to demonstrate that the issue isn’t as severe as perceived. 

This approach ensures that time and energy are focused on solving real issues rather than arguing over assumptions. 

5. Demonstrate progress

Let’s say you’re adopting AI tools to enhance productivity. How will you know if they’re working? Without clear metrics, it’s impossible to assess whether new initiatives are moving the dial. This is where you can separate the hype from reality: some tools claim to accelerate your delivery by 70%. With solid metrics in place, you can judge for yourself. 

Dashboards tracking key performance indicators provide tangible evidence of improvement. Whether it’s reducing lead times or increasing deployment frequency, metrics allow teams to celebrate wins and identify areas that still need attention. 

Accelerate your time to market

If you're ready to take software delivery productivity to the next level, you should consider implementing a comprehensive delivery optimisation framework. BJSS offers solutions tailored to accelerate time to value, empowering teams with the tools and insights they need to succeed. 

By measuring what matters, you can unlock new levels of efficiency, alignment, and business success. It’s not just about tracking numbers; it’s about driving the outcomes that matter most. 

Accelerate your time to market with BJSS delivery optimisation framework