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8 examples of Quality Assurance Team metrics and KPIs

What are Quality Assurance Team metrics?

Finding the right Quality Assurance Team metrics can be daunting, especially when you're busy working on your day-to-day tasks. This is why we've curated a list of examples for your inspiration.

You can copy these examples into your preferred app, or alternatively, use Tability to stay accountable.

Find Quality Assurance 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 Quality Assurance Team metrics and KPIs

Metrics for Assessing software quality

  • 1. defect density

    Defect density measures the number of defects per unit of software size, usually per thousand lines of code (KLOC)

    What good looks like for this metric: 1-5 defects per KLOC

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Improve code reviews
    • Implement automated testing
    • Enhance developer training
    • Increase test coverage
    • Use static code analysis
  • 2. code coverage

    Code coverage measures the percentage of code that is executed by automated tests

    What good looks like for this metric: 70-80%

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Write more unit tests
    • Implement integration testing
    • Use better testing tools
    • Collaborate closely with QA team
    • Regularly refactor code for testability
  • 3. mean time to resolve (MTTR)

    MTTR measures the average time taken to resolve a defect once it has been identified

    What good looks like for this metric: Less than 8 hours

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Streamline incident management process
    • Automate triage tasks
    • Improve defect prioritization
    • Enhance developer expertise
    • Implement rapid feedback loops
  • 4. customer-reported defects

    This metric counts the number of defects reported by end users or customers

    What good looks like for this metric: Less than 1 defect per month

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Implement thorough user acceptance testing
    • Conduct regular beta tests
    • Enhance support and issue tracking
    • Improve customer feedback channels
    • Use user personas in development
  • 5. code churn

    Code churn measures the amount of code changes over a period of time, indicating stability and code quality

    What good looks like for this metric: 10-20%

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Encourage smaller, iterative changes
    • Implement continuous integration
    • Use version control effectively
    • Conduct regular code reviews
    • Enhance change management processes

Metrics for Tracking Quality of Code

  • 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

Metrics for Backend Developer Performance

  • 1. Code Quality

    Measures the frequency and severity of bugs detected in the codebase.

    What good looks like for this metric: Less than 10 bugs per 1000 lines of code

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Implement regular code reviews
    • Use static code analysis tools
    • Provide training on best coding practices
    • Encourage test-driven development
    • Adopt a peer programming strategy
  • 2. Deployment Frequency

    Tracks how often code changes are successfully deployed to production.

    What good looks like for this metric: Deploy at least once a day

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Automate the deployment pipeline
    • Reduce bottlenecks in the process
    • Regularly publish small, manageable changes
    • Incentivise swift yet comprehensive testing
    • Improve team communication and collaboration
  • 3. Mean Time to Recovery (MTTR)

    Measures the average time taken to recover from a service failure.

    What good looks like for this metric: Less than 1 hour

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Develop a robust incident response plan
    • Streamline rollback and recovery processes
    • Use monitoring tools to detect issues early
    • Conduct post-mortems and learn from failures
    • Enhance system redundancy and fault tolerance
  • 4. Test Coverage

    Represents the percentage of code which is tested by automated tests.

    What good looks like for this metric: 70% to 90%

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Implement continuous integration with testing
    • Educate developers on writing effective tests
    • Regularly update and refactor out-of-date tests
    • Encourage a culture of writing tests
    • Utilise behaviour-driven development techniques
  • 5. API Response Time

    Measures the time taken for an API to respond to a request.

    What good looks like for this metric: Less than 200ms

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Optimize database queries
    • Utilise caching effectively
    • Reduce payload size
    • Use load balancing techniques
    • Profile and identify performance bottlenecks

Metrics for Effective Delivery for Waterfall Team

  • 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

Metrics for Quality and Reliability

  • 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

Metrics for Frontend Development Skill Assessment

  • 1. Code Quality

    Assesses the readability, structure, and efficiency of the written code in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

    What good looks like for this metric: Clean, well-commented code with no linting errors

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Utilise code linters and formatters
    • Adopt a consistent coding style
    • Refactor code regularly
    • Practise writing clear comments
    • Review code with peers
  • 2. Page Load Time

    Measures the time it takes for a webpage to fully load in a browser

    What good looks like for this metric: Less than 3 seconds

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Minimise HTTP requests
    • Optimise image sizes
    • Use CSS and JS minification
    • Leverage browser caching
    • Use content delivery networks
  • 3. Responsive Design

    Evaluates how well a website adapts to different screen sizes and devices

    What good looks like for this metric: Seamless functionality across all devices

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Use relative units like percentages
    • Implement CSS media queries
    • Test designs on multiple devices
    • Adopt a mobile-first approach
    • Utilise frameworks like Bootstrap
  • 4. Cross-browser Compatibility

    Ensures a website functions correctly across different web browsers

    What good looks like for this metric: Consistent experience on all major browsers

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Test site on all major browsers
    • Use browser-specific prefixes
    • Avoid deprecated features
    • Employ browser compatibility tools
    • Regularly update code for latest standards
  • 5. User Experience (UX)

    Measures how user-friendly and intuitive the interface is for users

    What good looks like for this metric: High user satisfaction and easy navigation

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Simplify navigation structures
    • Ensure consistent design patterns
    • Conduct user testing regularly
    • Gather and implement user feedback
    • Improve the accessibility of designs

Metrics for Project success

  • 1. On-time delivery

    Percentage of project milestones completed on schedule

    What good looks like for this metric: 85-95%

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Create realistic timelines
    • Use project management tools
    • Monitor progress regularly
    • Identify and mitigate risks
    • Communicate effectively with the team
  • 2. Budget adherence

    Percentage of project milestones completed within the allocated budget

    What good looks like for this metric: 90-100%

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Develop a detailed budget plan
    • Monitor expenses regularly
    • Utilise cost management software
    • Negotiate better rates with vendors
    • Implement a cost control strategy
  • 3. Scope compliance

    Percentage of project deliverables that meet the defined scope

    What good looks like for this metric: 90-100%

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Clearly define project scope
    • Use change control processes
    • Regularly review project requirements
    • Engage stakeholders throughout the project
    • Maintain detailed documentation
  • 4. Stakeholder satisfaction

    Average satisfaction rating from project stakeholders

    What good looks like for this metric: 4-5 out of 5

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Conduct regular feedback sessions
    • Address stakeholder concerns promptly
    • Maintain transparent communication
    • Set realistic expectations
    • Deliver high-quality work
  • 5. Quality of deliverables

    Percentage of project deliverables that meet quality standards

    What good looks like for this metric: 95-100%

    Ideas to improve this metric
    • Implement quality assurance processes
    • Use regular testing and reviews
    • Set clear quality criteria
    • Provide adequate training
    • Encourage continuous improvement

Metrics for Effective Delivery for Waterfall Team

  • 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

Tracking your Quality Assurance Team metrics

Having a plan is one thing, sticking to it is another.

Having a good strategy is only half the effort. You'll increase significantly your chances of success if you commit to a weekly check-in process.

A tool like Tability can also help you by combining AI and goal-setting to keep you on track.

Tability Insights DashboardTability's check-ins will save you hours and increase transparency

More metrics recently published

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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:

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