Can software leaders use metrics without damaging culture?

Re:Can software leaders use metrics without damaging culture? by remote_phone on Tuesday February 04, 2020 @09:51PM (#22243577)

If you use metrics to evaluate performance, expect EVERYTHING to be gamed around them.

My friend at Facebook says that everything is based on metrics. So people will ask others to give them a “thanks” in the Performance system for Mundane things like going to a meeting. Numbers of reviews that are commented on are also a metric, so people will +1 a review.

This happens everywhere, not just Facebook. Whatever metrics you employ will incentivize your employees to target those. If you value LOC then those will be targeted. If you value number of checkins, then those will be targeted. And that’s how it should be because that’s what you as a manager are defining to your employees is what is important and valued.

So if you do choose metrics then be aware that it will change the culture.

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Re:Can software leaders use metrics without damaging culture? by logicchains on Tuesday February 04, 2020 @10:28PM (#22243754)

That's the lovely thing about working in HFT: can make the PnL the metric, as it's much easier to connect work to PnL impact, and then everybody is working towards increasing an actually useful metric.

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