What are Development Team metrics? Crafting the perfect Development Team metrics can feel overwhelming, particularly when you're juggling daily responsibilities. That's why we've put together a collection of examples to spark your inspiration.
Copy these examples into your preferred app, or you can also use Tability to keep yourself accountable.
Find Development Team metrics with AI While we have some examples available, it's likely that you'll have specific scenarios that aren't covered here. You can use our free AI metrics generator below to generate your own strategies.
Examples of Development Team metrics and KPIs 1. Team Velocity Measures the amount of work a team completes during a sprint, calculated by the total story points completed
What good looks like for this metric: 20-40 story points per sprint
Ideas to improve this metric Streamline workflows Refine sprint planning Enhance team collaboration Invest in skill development Use consistent estimation techniques 2. Sprint Burndown Tracks the completion of work throughout the sprint, showing remaining tasks vs. time
What good looks like for this metric: Consistent downward trend with minimal or no backlog at sprint end
Ideas to improve this metric Daily stand-ups to identify blockers Encourage realistic task estimates Prioritise critical tasks early Use burn-down charts for visibility Improve task segmentation 3. Cycle Time The total time it takes from starting a work item to its completion
What good looks like for this metric: 1-2 days for small tasks, up to 1-2 weeks for larger tasks
Ideas to improve this metric Minimize work-in-progress limits Enhance automated testing Implement continuous integration Use Kanban to visualise workflow Regularly review cycle times 4. Lead Time The total time from when a customer request is made to when it is fulfilled
What good looks like for this metric: Varies based on complexity, aim for a reduction over time
Ideas to improve this metric Prioritise tasks based on customer value Optimise backlog grooming Reduce bottlenecks Increase cross-functional team collaboration Regularly analyse and adjust processes 5. Customer Satisfaction (NPS) Measures customer satisfaction and loyalty through surveys or Net Promoter Score (NPS)
What good looks like for this metric: NPS score of 50-70
Ideas to improve this metric Increase customer feedback channels Actively respond to customer issues Continually improve product features Regularly review customer feedback Train team on customer service excellence
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1. On-Time Delivery Rate The percentage of projects delivered on or before their scheduled deadlines
What good looks like for this metric: 85-90%
Ideas to improve this metric Set realistic deadlines based on project complexity Utilise Gantt charts for better timeline management Track progress regularly against the schedule Engage in proactive risk management Ensure resource availability and skill alignment 2. Budget Adherence The percentage of projects completed within the allocated budget
What good looks like for this metric: 85-95%
Ideas to improve this metric Conduct thorough cost estimation Monitor expenses in real-time Implement change control procedures Secure contingency funds for unforeseen costs Regularly review budget utilisation 3. Scope Creep The amount of unplanned work and changes in scope that occur during the project lifecycle
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 10%
Ideas to improve this metric Define clear project scope documentation Establish a formal change request process Engage stakeholders early and often Track scope changes meticulously Utilise scope management tools 4. Client Satisfaction The level of client satisfaction measured through surveys and feedback, typically scored on a scale of 1-5
What good looks like for this metric: 4.0 or higher
Ideas to improve this metric Conduct regular client check-ins Act on feedback promptly Set realistic client expectations from the start Maintain transparent communication Deliver all promised features and functionalities 5. Defect Density The number of defects found per unit of product, often measured per 1,000 lines of code
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 5 defects per 1,000 lines of code
Ideas to improve this metric Implement thorough testing phases Conduct code reviews regularly Utilise automated testing tools Provide adequate training for developers Establish clear coding standards
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1. Daily Active Users (DAU) The number of unique users who engage with the app daily
What good looks like for this metric: 20% of total installs
Ideas to improve this metric Send push notifications to re-engage users Introduce daily challenges or content Optimise user onboarding process Incorporate in-app social elements Provide real-time customer support 2. Session Length The average time a user spends in an app per session
What good looks like for this metric: 4-6 minutes per session
Ideas to improve this metric Improve app speed and performance Offer engaging and diverse content Personalise the user experience Integrate gamification elements Streamline user interface and navigation 3. Retention Rate The percentage of users who continue to use the app over a given period
What good looks like for this metric: 30% after 30 days
Ideas to improve this metric Send personalised re-engagement emails Regularly update app content and features Offer loyalty rewards or incentives Create tutorial and help sections Gather and act on user feedback 4. Churn Rate The percentage of users who stop using the app over a given period
What good looks like for this metric: Under 5% monthly
Ideas to improve this metric Analyse and address user pain points Offer in-app customer support Regularly update and improve the app Provide special promotions for returning users Monitor and enhance app performance 5. In-App Purchases (IAP) Revenue Revenue generated from purchases made within the app
What good looks like for this metric: $1-2 per user per month
Ideas to improve this metric Offer exclusive in-app content Create bundled in-app purchase offers Run limited-time in-app promotions Provide an easy and secure purchase process Track and analyse purchase behaviour
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1. Vulnerability Density Measures the number of vulnerabilities per thousand lines of code. It helps to identify vulnerable areas in the codebase that need attention.
What good looks like for this metric: 0-1 vulnerabilities per KLOC
Ideas to improve this metric Conduct regular code reviews Use static analysis tools Implement secure coding practices Provide security training for developers Perform security-focused testing 2. Mean Time to Resolve Vulnerabilities (MTTR) The average time it takes to resolve vulnerabilities from the time they are identified.
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 30 days
Ideas to improve this metric Prioritise vulnerabilities based on severity Automate vulnerability management processes Allocate dedicated resources for vulnerability remediation Establish a clear vulnerability response process Regularly monitor and report on MTTR 3. Percentage of Code Covered by Security Testing The proportion of the codebase that is covered by security tests, helping to ensure code is thoroughly tested for vulnerabilities.
What good looks like for this metric: 90% or higher
Ideas to improve this metric Increase the frequency of security tests Use automated security testing tools Integrate security tests into the CI/CD pipeline Regularly update and expand test cases Provide training on writing effective security tests 4. Number of Security Incidents The total count of security incidents, including breaches, detected within a given period.
What good looks like for this metric: Zero incidents
Ideas to improve this metric Implement continuous monitoring Conduct regular penetration testing Deploy intrusion detection systems Educate employees on security best practices Establish a strong incident response plan 5. False Positive Rate of Security Tools The percentage of security alerts that are not true threats, which can lead to resource wastage and alert fatigue.
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 5%
Ideas to improve this metric Regularly update security tool configurations Train security teams to properly interpret alerts Use machine learning to improve tool accuracy Combine multiple security tools for better context Implement regular reviews of alerts to refine rules
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1. Sales Revenue Total income generated from sales of courses, measured in USD
What good looks like for this metric: $50,000 per month
Ideas to improve this metric Enhance course offerings Run targeted advertising campaigns Offer early-bird discounts Upsell related courses Optimise pricing strategy 2. Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT) Measures the level of satisfaction of customers, usually rated on a scale of 1-5
What good looks like for this metric: 4.0 out of 5
Ideas to improve this metric Provide excellent customer support Gather and act on customer feedback Offer personalised learning paths Improve user interface and experience Ensure course content is high quality 3. Learner Engagement Rate Percentage of learners actively participating in the course, calculated by dividing active participants by total enrolled
What good looks like for this metric: 60%
Ideas to improve this metric Introduce interactive elements Provide regular updates and new content Encourage group discussions Use gamification techniques Send regular reminders and follow-ups 4. Course Completion Rate Percentage of learners who complete the course, calculated by dividing the number of completions by the total number enrolled
What good looks like for this metric: 70%
Ideas to improve this metric Design shorter, more manageable modules Set clear expectations and goals Offer incentives for completion Provide support resources Implement progress tracking 5. Knowledge Retention Rate Measures how much information learners retain over time, assessed through follow-up tests
What good looks like for this metric: 75%
Ideas to improve this metric Use varied teaching methods Incorporate spaced repetition Provide summary notes Offer periodic refreshers Encourage practical application of knowledge
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1. Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT) Measures customer happiness with a product or service, usually on a scale of 1-5.
What good looks like for this metric: 80-85%
Ideas to improve this metric Gather customer feedback regularly Address complaints promptly Enhance product features based on user feedback Train customer support staff adequately Implement a loyalty program 2. Net Promoter Score (NPS) Assesses customer loyalty by asking them to rate the likelihood of recommending the product to others on a scale of 0-10.
What good looks like for this metric: 30-50
Ideas to improve this metric Cultivate strong customer relationships Resolve issues swiftly and efficiently Encourage customers to share testimonials Offer incentives for referrals Improve the overall customer experience 3. Customer Effort Score (CES) Evaluates the ease of service usage by asking customers to rate their effort level in completing a task.
What good looks like for this metric: 5 or lower
Ideas to improve this metric Simplify processes Improve website usability Enhance user interface design Provide clear instructions and guidance Reduce waiting times in service 4. Churn Rate Indicates the percentage of customers who stop using a product or service within a particular time frame.
What good looks like for this metric: 5-7%
Ideas to improve this metric Identify reasons causing customer churn Enhance customer retention strategies Offer personalised experiences Develop an attentive onboarding process Continuously engage with customers 5. Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) A prediction of the net profit attributed to the entire future relationship with a customer.
What good looks like for this metric: 3 times the acquisition cost
Ideas to improve this metric Increase customer satisfaction initiatives Track customer purchasing patterns Improve customer segmentation Enhance cross-selling initiatives Increase quality of customer support
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1. Customer Acquisition Rate Measures the number of new customers acquired within a specific period after the product launch, typically calculated as the percentage of new customers relative to total target audience
What good looks like for this metric: 20-30%
Ideas to improve this metric Increase marketing efforts Offer promotions or discounts Enhance online presence Use influencer partnerships Optimise your sales funnel 2. Customer Retention Rate Indicates the percentage of customers who continue to purchase your product after initial acquisition, calculated by dividing the number of repeat customers by the total number of customers
What good looks like for this metric: 40-60%
Ideas to improve this metric Improve customer service Introduce a loyalty programme Regularly update the product Solicit customer feedback Follow up with customers 3. Revenue Growth Rate Tracks the increase in revenue generated by the new product over a set period, usually expressed as a percentage
What good looks like for this metric: 10-25%
Ideas to improve this metric Upsell and cross-sell Expand into new markets Increase marketing investment Optimise pricing strategies Refine product features based on feedback 4. Market Penetration Measures the extent to which the new product is being adopted in the target market, calculated by the percentage of target market users purchasing the product
What good looks like for this metric: 5-15%
Ideas to improve this metric Conduct market research Adjust marketing messaging Offer introductory offers Establish strategic partnerships Create compelling product demo and trials 5. Customer Satisfaction Score Gauges customers' satisfaction with the new product, commonly measured using surveys and net promoter scores
What good looks like for this metric: 70-85%
Ideas to improve this metric Enhance product quality Improve customer support Offer easy-to-find help resources Regularly collect customer feedback Implement suggested improvements
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1. Course Completion Rate The percentage of enrolled students who complete the course out of the total enrolled students
What good looks like for this metric: 40-60%
Ideas to improve this metric Enhance course content quality Offer personalised support Use engaging multimedia Provide clear learning objectives Implement regular assessments 2. Student Satisfaction Rate The percentage of students who rate the course positively, usually gathered through post-course surveys
What good looks like for this metric: 70-90%
Ideas to improve this metric Collect and act on feedback Improve the usability of the learning platform Update course materials regularly Include interactive elements Offer additional resources and support 3. Enrolment Numbers The total number of students who enrol in the course
What good looks like for this metric: Varies by course popularity
Ideas to improve this metric Enhance marketing efforts Offer early-bird discounts Utilise social media promotions Partner with influencers Host free webinars or previews 4. Drop-off Rate The percentage of students who start but do not complete the course
What good looks like for this metric: 20-50%
Ideas to improve this metric Identify and address common drop-off points Offer motivational incentives Provide progress tracking tools Maintain consistent communication Create a supportive community 5. Average Time to Completion The average amount of time it takes for students to complete the course from enrolment to completion
What good looks like for this metric: 6-12 weeks
Ideas to improve this metric Simplify complex topics Break down modules into manageable segments Offer flexible deadlines Provide clear time management tips Monitor and optimise course pacing
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1. Code Coverage Measures the percentage of your code that is covered by automated tests
What good looks like for this metric: 70%-90%
Ideas to improve this metric Increase unit tests Use code coverage tools Refactor complex code Implement test-driven development Conduct code reviews frequently 2. Code Complexity Assesses the complexity of the code using metrics like Cyclomatic Complexity
What good looks like for this metric: 1-10 (Lower is better)
Ideas to improve this metric Simplify conditional statements Refactor to smaller functions Reduce nested loops Use design patterns appropriately Perform regular code reviews 3. Technical Debt Measures the cost of additional work caused by choosing easy solutions now instead of better approaches
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 5%
Ideas to improve this metric Refactor code regularly Avoid quick fixes Ensure high-quality code reviews Update and follow coding standards Use static code analysis tools 4. Defect Density Calculates the number of defects per 1000 lines of code
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 1 defect/KLOC
Ideas to improve this metric Implement thorough testing Increase peer code reviews Enhance developer training Use static analysis tools Adopt continuous integration 5. Code Churn Measures the amount of code that is added, modified, or deleted over time
What good looks like for this metric: 10-20%
Ideas to improve this metric Stabilise project requirements Improve initial code quality Adopt pair programming Reduce unnecessary refactoring Enhance documentation
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1. Release Frequency Measures the number of releases over a specific period. Indicates how quickly updates are being deployed.
What good looks like for this metric: 1-2 releases per month
Ideas to improve this metric Automate deployment processes Implement continuous integration/continuous deployment practices Invest in developer training Regularly review and optimise code Deploy smaller, incremental updates 2. Lead Time for Changes The average time it takes from code commitment to production release. Reflects the efficiency of the development pipeline.
What good looks like for this metric: Less than one week
Ideas to improve this metric Streamline workflow processes Use automated testing tools Enhance code review efficiency Implement Kanban or Agile methodologies Identify and eliminate bottlenecks 3. Change Failure Rate Percentage of releases that cause a failure in production. Indicates the reliability of releases.
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 15%
Ideas to improve this metric Increase testing coverage Conduct thorough code reviews Implement feature flags Improve rollback procedures Provide better training for developers 4. Mean Time to Recovery (MTTR) Average time taken to recover from a failure. Reflects the team's ability to handle incidents.
What good looks like for this metric: Less than one hour
Ideas to improve this metric Establish clear incident response protocols Automate recovery processes Enhance monitoring and alerts Regularly conduct disaster recovery drills Analyse incidents post-mortem to prevent recurrence 5. Number of Bugs Found Post-Release The count of bugs discovered by users post-release. Indicates the quality of software before deployment.
What good looks like for this metric: Fewer than 5 bugs per release
Ideas to improve this metric Enhance pre-release testing Implement user acceptance testing Increase use of beta testing Utilise static code analysis tools Improve requirement gathering and planning
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1. Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) Measures customer satisfaction based on their experience with the product, typically through surveys
What good looks like for this metric: 75%-85%
Ideas to improve this metric Improve customer support Enhance product features Implement user feedback promptly Conduct regular user experience reviews Offer personalised customer interactions 2. Net Promoter Score (NPS) Measures customer loyalty by asking how likely they are to recommend the product to others
What good looks like for this metric: 30-50
Ideas to improve this metric Implement user-friendly design Enhance product reliability Offer proactive customer support Regularly update and improve the product Conduct customer satisfaction surveys 3. Monthly Active Users (MAU) Tracks the number of unique users engaging with the product within a month
What good looks like for this metric: Varies by industry
Ideas to improve this metric Increase marketing efforts Enhance user engagement features Regularly update content Simplify onboarding process Offer promotions or incentives 4. Customer Retention Rate Measures the percentage of customers who continue using the product over a specific period
What good looks like for this metric: 80%-90%
Ideas to improve this metric Improve customer service Enhance product quality Analyse and address churn reasons Regularly engage with customers Offer loyalty programmes 5. Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) Calculates the average income generated per user, typically on a monthly or annual basis
What good looks like for this metric: Varies by industry
Ideas to improve this metric Upsell premium features Introduce new pricing models Increase user engagement Expand user base Conduct pricing analysis
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1. Deployment Frequency Measures how often new updates are deployed to production
What good looks like for this metric: Once per week
Ideas to improve this metric Automate deployment processes Implement continuous integration Use feature toggles Practice trunk-based development Reduce batch sizes 2. Lead Time for Changes Time taken from code commit to deployment in production
What good looks like for this metric: One day to one week
Ideas to improve this metric Improve code review process Minimise work in progress Optimise build processes Automate testing pipelines Implement parallel builds 3. Mean Time to Recovery Time taken to recover from production failures
What good looks like for this metric: Less than one hour
Ideas to improve this metric Implement robust monitoring tools Create a clear incident response plan Use canary releases Conduct regular disaster recovery drills Enhance rollback procedures 4. Change Failure Rate Percentage of changes that result in production failures
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 15%
Ideas to improve this metric Increase test coverage Perform thorough code reviews Conduct root cause analysis Use static code analysis tools Implement infrastructure as code 5. Cycle Time Time to complete one development cycle from start to finish
What good looks like for this metric: Two weeks
Ideas to improve this metric Adopt agile methodologies Limit work in progress Use time-boxed sprints Continuously prioritise tasks Improve collaboration among teams
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1. Response Time The time taken for a system to respond to a request, typically measured in milliseconds.
What good looks like for this metric: 100-200 ms
Ideas to improve this metric Optimise database queries Use efficient algorithms Implement caching strategies Scale infrastructure Minimise network latency 2. Error Rate The percentage of requests that result in errors, such as 4xx or 5xx HTTP status codes.
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 1%
Ideas to improve this metric Improve input validation Conduct thorough testing Use error monitoring tools Implement robust exception handling Optimize API endpoints 3. Request Per Second (RPS) The number of requests the server can handle per second.
What good looks like for this metric: 1000-5000 RPS
Ideas to improve this metric Use load balancing Optimise server performance Increase concurrency Implement rate limiting Scale vertically and horizontally 4. CPU Utilisation The percentage of CPU resources used by the backend server.
What good looks like for this metric: 50-70%
Ideas to improve this metric Profile and optimise code Distribute workloads evenly Scale infrastructure Use efficient data structures Reduce computational complexity 5. Memory Usage The amount of memory consumed by the backend server.
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 85% of total memory
Ideas to improve this metric Identify and fix memory leaks Optimise data storage Use garbage collection Implement memory caching Scale infrastructure
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1. Defect Density Measures the number of defects per unit size of the software, usually per thousand lines of code
What good looks like for this metric: 1-10 defects per KLOC
Ideas to improve this metric Implement code reviews Increase automated testing Enhance developer training Use static code analysis tools Adopt Test-Driven Development (TDD) 2. Mean Time to Failure (MTTF) Measures the average time between failures for a system or component during operation
What good looks like for this metric: Varies widely by industry and system type, generally higher is better
Ideas to improve this metric Conduct regular maintenance routines Implement rigorous testing cycles Enhance monitoring and alerting systems Utilise redundancy and failover mechanisms Improve codebase documentation 3. Customer-Reported Incidents Counts the number of issues or bugs reported by customers within a given period
What good looks like for this metric: Varies depending on product and customer base, generally lower is better
Ideas to improve this metric Engage in proactive customer support Release regular updates and patches Conduct user feedback sessions Improve user documentation Monitor and analyse incident trends 4. Code Coverage Indicates the percentage of the source code covered by automated tests
What good looks like for this metric: 70-90% code coverage
Ideas to improve this metric Increase unit testing Use automated testing tools Adopt continuous integration practices Refactor legacy code Integrate end-to-end testing 5. Release Frequency Measures how often new releases are deployed to production
What good looks like for this metric: Depends on product and development cycle; frequently updated software is often more reliable
Ideas to improve this metric Adopt continuous delivery Automate deployment processes Improve release planning Reduce deployment complexity Engage in regular sprint retrospectives
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1. Planned vs Actual Delivery Dates This metric compares the initially planned delivery dates to the actual delivery dates to assess the team's ability to meet deadlines
What good looks like for this metric: 80% of projects delivered on time
Ideas to improve this metric Conduct detailed planning sessions Implement regular progress reviews Improve risk management practices Enhance communication within the team Optimise resource allocation 2. Scope Creep Measures the changes and additions in the project scope after the project has commenced, indicating how often the team deviates from the original plan
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 5% increase in scope
Ideas to improve this metric Establish clear project requirements Implement strict change control processes Engage stakeholders early and often Document all changes meticulously Maintain a project scope baseline 3. Budget Variance This metric tracks the difference between the budgeted costs and the actual costs incurred, indicating financial planning accuracy
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 10% budget overrun
Ideas to improve this metric Conduct thorough budget forecasting Monitor expenditures closely Implement cost control measures Review financial reports regularly Optimise purchasing processes 4. Defect Density Measures the number of defects identified within a certain timeframe or phase of the project, reflecting product quality
What good looks like for this metric: Fewer than 1 defect per 1000 lines of code
Ideas to improve this metric Enhance testing processes Implement automated testing tools Provide training on quality standards Review code regularly Incorporate quality assurance in each phase 5. Customer Satisfaction Assesses the stakeholders' and customers' satisfaction with the delivered project through surveys and feedback mechanisms
What good looks like for this metric: Customer satisfaction score above 8 out of 10
Ideas to improve this metric Gather customer feedback regularly Act on the feedback received Improve stakeholder communication Deliver regular project updates Ensure project deliverables meet expectations
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Tracking your Development Team metrics Having a plan is one thing, sticking to it is another.
Don't fall into the set-and-forget trap. It is important to adopt a weekly check-in process to keep your strategy agile – otherwise this is nothing more than a reporting exercise.
A tool like Tability can also help you by combining AI and goal-setting to keep you on track.
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Planning resources OKRs are a great way to translate strategies into measurable goals. Here are a list of resources to help you adopt the OKR framework:
Tability's check-ins will save you hours and increase transparency
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