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The Roadmap to DevOps Success: Key DevOps KPIs & Metrics To Follow

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Already integrated DevOps to drive the ultimate digital transformation? But have you tracked the success of your DevOps transition? Like you, most of today’s organizations are missing out on using DevOps KPIs and metrics effectively. But why?

“Your DevOps journey defines your long-term commitment toward achieving your DevOps initiatives and objectives using effective metrics and KPIs.”

You can get guaranteed results with proper DevOps implementation. You can achieve the stipulated DevOps success by making the right decision. Implementing the pre-planned roadmap may provide a different outcome. Today, we will discuss the best DevOps metrics and KPIs to help you determine if your DevOps culture works for you.

Let’s get started!

5 Key Metrics To Measure for DevOps Success

Metrics in DevOps are data points that reveal the performance of any DevOps CI/CD pipeline and help quickly identify software development. Metrics focus on removing bottlenecks for software development and operations teams. Here are the key metrics for DevOps that you must consider:

#1 DORA Metrics

The State of DevOps Report has developed the DORA (DevOps Research and Assessment) metrics to measure DevOps success. DevOps engineers can use the below DORA metrics:

  • Deployment frequency
  • Mean time to recovery
  • Lead time for changes
  • Change failure rate

DevOps professionals can measure these metrics to evaluate the DevOps implementation’s success and identify improvement areas.

#2 Lead time for changes

It is the duration of implementing a code change, from the initial commit to the final deployment. It measures the speed at which DevOps development teams can respond to business requirements and deliver value. So organizations should reduce the lead time to accelerate time-to-market with improved customer satisfaction.

#3 Code level metrics

Code-level metrics with DevOps KPIs provide insights into the quality and maintainability of the software codebase. These metrics include:

  • Code churn
  • Test coverage
  • Code complexity
  • Code duplication

Code-level metrics can help developers identify areas of the code that require refactoring and reduce technical debt.

#4 Change failure rate

It calculates the percentage of failed Changes or Incidents in production. High change failure rates indicate instability and poor software quality in the delivery process. By tracking and reducing this metric, organizations can enhance the reliability and stability of their DevOps services.

#5 Deployment frequency

It measures the frequency of Change Deployments in production. High deployment frequency indicates an efficient deployment process. Organizations can use the deployment frequency to finalize new features and enhancements. It also helps teams bring innovation and respond to customer demands faster.

6 DevOps KPIs For DevOps Success

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are essential factors to monitor DevOps performance. Here are the primary KPIs every organization and team should focus on:

KPI 1: Feature Prioritization

Monitor usage of software features to prioritize and ensure bug-free delivery. Reassess priorities if a feature’s usage declines, enhancing user engagement and benefit.

KPI 2: Customer Ticket Volume

Track customer-reported issues to identify underlying program issues and fix them promptly. Rigorous testing can minimize bugs reaching end users.

KPI 3: Defect Escape Rate

DevOps team can measure bugs that bypass testing and reach users. A high defect escape rate indicates testing inefficiencies and calls for optimizing protocols and capabilities.

KPI 4: Unplanned Work

Analyze time spent on unplanned tasks. Excessive time suggests instability or issues in the DevOps approach, compromising productivity and software quality.

KPI 5: Process Cycle Time

Inefficiencies indicate long cycle times, but we should maintain code quality. Organizations should measure the time from conceptualization to user feedback.

KPI 6: Application Performance

Assess application performance pre and post-deployment using suitable DevOps practices. Identify hidden errors or bugs to enhance stability and efficiency. Utilize DevOps metrics tools for analysis.

Best Practices for Choosing the Right KPIs & Metrics for DevOps

When selecting DevOps Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for your organization, consider the following best practices:

#1 Tie Metrics to Business Outcomes

Carefully consider the metrics aligning with your organization’s goals and objectives. Focus on those directly impacting business outcomes, such as customer experience or cost efficiency.

#2 Gain Buy-In from Stakeholders

Involve all relevant stakeholders in defining clear and measurable goals. The collaborative approach with DevOps consulting companies ensures proper alignment between the business and the development teams. It prioritizes improved customer satisfaction and resource optimization.

#3 Embrace a Data-Driven Approach

According to a Gartner survey, organizations that apply advanced analytics in application development can enhance quality and speed of delivery. So leverage advanced analytics and data to inform decision-making and address challenges in service delivery.

FAQs

#1 Why measure DevOps success with KPIs?

KPIs enable organizations to align their DevOps initiatives with business goals. Measuring DevOps success with KPIs drive process improvements in development, delivery, and operations.

#2 Is MMTR the best DevOps metric to use?

MTTR, or Mean Time to Recover, is a valuable DevOps metric. But it’s not the sole indicator of DevOps success. Other metrics like lead time, code level, and customer satisfaction are also crucial in conjunction with MTTR.

#3 What are KPIs in DevOps?

KPIs of Key Performance Indicators in DevOps offer a comprehensive view of the impact of implemented DevOps practices over business value. KPIs encompass various metrics in DevOps, such as lead time, deployment frequency, etc., to assess the impact of DevOps implementations.

#4 How to measure Agile DevOps maturity?

Determinant metrics of DevOps are best for measuring Agile DevOps maturity. The Teams and Competence metrics come under Determinant metrics to track and assess the core progress and business growth after Agile Transformation.

#5 Can DevOps KPIs assess application performance?

Yes, KPIs can assess application performance based on pre-development and post-deployment use cases. KPIs help identify hidden errors or bugs to enhance stability and efficiency. Utilize metrics tools in DevOps for further analysis.

Wrap Up

Continuous Improvement is the core of practicing DevOps. The ability to measure DevOps Success lies under the governance of the organization. Enterprises can efficiently utilize the above-discussed DevOps KPIs and metrics to enhance the performance of their DevOps workflows. Organizations can accelerate product delivery and increase quality by building a DevOps culture.

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BDCC

BDCC

Co-Founder & Director, Business Management
BDCC Global is a leading DevOps research company. We believe in sharing knowledge and increasing awareness, and to contribute to this cause, we try to include all the latest changes, news, and fresh content from the DevOps world into our blogs.
BDCC

About BDCC

BDCC Global is a leading DevOps research company. We believe in sharing knowledge and increasing awareness, and to contribute to this cause, we try to include all the latest changes, news, and fresh content from the DevOps world into our blogs.