Productivity seems unimportant. If it were important, you’d be able to know it when you saw it, and measuring it would be easy. I don’t think productivity is real or, if it is, worth measuring. The only thing that matters is “are you capable of asking questions that help you solve problems in better ways.” Which, I assume is defined as productivity?
Thanks! Asking the right questions is a big part of it, which is to say that you can't be productive without great communication. When I put on my former-CTO hat, I don't think productivity is unimportant, but I want to approach it in a practical way by eliminating things I see as hampering productivity and creating a culture where people are engaged and happy. I've never in my life tried to measure productivity. I just don't think that works, even with clustered metrics like DORA. It's not that it's not worth measuring, it's that it can't be measured in any actionable way that I've found. If you have a great culture, productivity will take care of itself.
This resonates. Especially the idea that output metrics lie. In companies, I’ve found productivity shows up as ease of change, not volume shipped. When changes are cheap, momentum stays. :)
Productivity seems unimportant. If it were important, you’d be able to know it when you saw it, and measuring it would be easy. I don’t think productivity is real or, if it is, worth measuring. The only thing that matters is “are you capable of asking questions that help you solve problems in better ways.” Which, I assume is defined as productivity?
Your articles are quite excellent.
Thanks! Asking the right questions is a big part of it, which is to say that you can't be productive without great communication. When I put on my former-CTO hat, I don't think productivity is unimportant, but I want to approach it in a practical way by eliminating things I see as hampering productivity and creating a culture where people are engaged and happy. I've never in my life tried to measure productivity. I just don't think that works, even with clustered metrics like DORA. It's not that it's not worth measuring, it's that it can't be measured in any actionable way that I've found. If you have a great culture, productivity will take care of itself.
This resonates. Especially the idea that output metrics lie. In companies, I’ve found productivity shows up as ease of change, not volume shipped. When changes are cheap, momentum stays. :)
One of your better posts, Allen. Comparison with the Buddhist perspective on suffering is very appropriate.