Stop measuring for reporting.
Start measuring for learning.
Most teams track velocity, story points, and burndown charts. The numbers go up. Nothing changes. That's because those metrics measure activity, not learning. The teams I studied (ING, Spotify, Booking.com, bol.com, About You) didn't start with dashboards. They started with one honest question: What do we actually want to learn?
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Your metrics answer the wrong question.
Here's what I keep seeing. A team tracks 15 metrics. They report them every two weeks. Nobody acts on them. The dashboard exists because someone asked for it once.
The real problem isn't the metrics. It's the system around them.
No learning question behind the number. No check whether the team is ready to hear the answer. No small test to run with it.
Just a number on a slide.
The Experiment Triangle
Every useful metric answers three questions. Why. What do we want to learn? What will we change if the answer hurts? When. Are we calm and honest enough to look at this together? What. What is the smallest test that teaches us the most? If one side is missing, start there. Small tests. Short loops. Real conversations.
Download the Experiment Triangle (PDF) β
Use this in 15 minutes
π Pick one metric you already track (velocity, cycle time, NPS, whatever).
π Put it in the Triangle. Define why it matters and what action it should trigger.
π Open the Metrics Universe and pick one companion metric that adds truth (outcome, quality, team health).
π Bring both to your next retro. Ask one question. "What did we learn, and what will we change?"
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Measurement Triangle
The thinking framework that connects what you measure to why you measure it, and how you act on it. One page. Visual. Immediately usable.
Metrics Universe (60+ metrics)
60+ metrics organised by category, plus lightweight guidance to choose the right ones. If you've ever argued about story points, this will feel like fresh air.
Want the thinking behind this?
If you want the story and examples from high-performing teams, read the article. If you want help applying this in your context, get in touch. If you want more practical tools like this, subscribe.