In a quaint town, Walter the clockmaker was renowned for crafting the most precise clocks. His reputation hinged on a single metric: accuracy. Every clock was a marvel of engineering, ticking with perfect precision. But there was a problem—Walter's clocks, while precise, were fragile. A minor bump or shake would throw them off, making them unreliable in the real world.
One day, a young craftsman named Alex visited Walter’s shop. Alex was captivated by the precision of Walter's clocks, but he couldn’t ignore their fragility. "Why not make them more durable?" Alex asked. Walter replied, "Accuracy is what I’m known for. If I compromise on that, what will be left of my reputation?"
But Alex saw things differently. He believed that focusing on just one metric—accuracy—was limiting Walter’s potential. "A clock that’s accurate but fragile isn’t truly valuable," Alex argued. "What if someone buys your clock, only for it to break at the slightest jolt? The precision becomes meaningless."
Walter was taken aback. He had spent years perfecting his craft, ensuring every clock was a masterpiece of accuracy. But in his pursuit of perfection in one area, he had neglected another equally important aspect—durability. The clocks were fast to be labeled as the most precise, but they couldn’t stand the test of time, literally and figuratively.
In product development, this story mirrors the dangers of focusing on a single metric, like cycle time or throughput. While reducing cycle time can indicate faster delivery, it doesn’t guarantee that the product aligns with customer needs or provides value. Without metrics to measure customer satisfaction or product quality, a team might be speeding toward an outcome that ultimately disappoints.
Walter and Alex decided to work together, blending precision with durability. They crafted clocks that not only kept perfect time but also withstood the rigors of daily life. Customers were thrilled—finally, they had clocks that were both accurate and reliable.
This balance between precision and durability transformed Walter’s business, making his clocks the most sought-after in the region.
Similarly, in Agile product development, relying solely on one metric can lead to unintended consequences. While cycle time might be reduced, without complementary metrics like customer satisfaction and product quality, you risk delivering products that don’t truly meet your customer’s needs.
Just as Walter learned to balance accuracy with durability, teams should learn to balance multiple metrics, ensuring they are not just delivering quickly, but delivering the right thing, and doing so consistently.
By embracing a holistic approach to metrics, teams can ensure they’re not just moving fast but moving in the right direction, delivering true value to their customers.
During a recent PAL-E course and scratching the surface of the module on Evidence-Based Management (EBM), I reflected on examples of unbalanced metrics I’ve seen. Some managers focus intensely on keeping their teams busy with a rolling Sprint Backlog, often overlooking quality. Others prioritize the number of features released, neglecting the time it takes.
Selecting the right metrics to maximize your outcomes is a balancing act. Choose wisely!