The Dictatorship of Metrics: how to stop chewing on ice and start widening the freeway.

There have been a few formal quality management efforts in recent history, from Quality Circles in the '80s to Six Sigma and Agile now. All started out with a lot of fanfare because of documented successes, all led to initial improvements in quality and quantity of engineering development -- and all seemed to lose their effectiveness over time. A large cause if this is...metrics.

But aren't metrics necessary to any modern engineering effort? Absolutely. But metrics have a Dark Side and if you don't take charge and make metrics work for you, you will find yourself (and your team and your entire company) working for metrics. With metrics comes an alter upon which you must sacrifice productivity and innovation -- the mortal enemies of metrics.

We will discuss what metrics tell you about your development efforts, but more importantly what they do not tell you. Also common uses for metrics that should never be allowed.