Be careful what you wish for
summary
Workshop converts metric-goals into a one-minute brainstorming game that finds terrible ways to hit targets: cut defect logging, close bugs without fixing, create fake tasks to raise velocity. Goals used are concrete: defects −30%, velocity +15%, predictability ≥80%; participants generate dozens of gaming tactics and one attendee scores 20+ points by listing many hacks. Argument is that metricized goals invite optimization tricks; recommended practice is to treat indicators as observables for hypotheses, inspect and adapt, not as binary targets.
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chapters (10)
- 0:00Introduction
- 1:25Metric-based goals danger
- 3:35Game setup and rules
- 4:42Round one: 30% fewer defects
- 7:08Round two: 15% more velocity
- 9:17Round three: 80% predictability
- 11:28Game winner announced
- 12:12Why metrics mislead
- 12:56Pilot’s cockpit analogy
- 13:40Delivering customer value
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