Metrics Handle with Care: The Paradox of Measuring Team Performance

In a world obsessed with numbers, measuring the performance of development teams seems like a logical step to success. But this is a misconception. We show how a fixation on metrics like lines of code or feature count leads to counterproductive behaviors that stifle creativity and lower the quality of work. Instead of measuring teams using such metrics, we at Schwarz IT take a different approach: we make measurement obsolete. Because measurement signals distance from the team. However, if you are not part of the team, you are not part of the solution. We are convinced that true success can only be achieved when development and business work together. According to our motto ‘Getting Your Hands Dirty’, we not only support the creation of better software, but also team spirit, mutual understanding, appreciation and a culture of trust.