mediumConceptScenarioMidSeniorLeadStaff
Which delivery metrics would you actually track for a team, and why does velocity stop working the moment you set a target for it?
6 min readUpdated 2026-08-15
Answer
Short answer
Track throughput, cycle-time distribution and flow efficiency, because they describe the system rather than the estimate. Velocity is denominated in a unit the team defines, so making it a target lets the number rise without any change in delivered output, and it stops measuring anything.
Flow metrics are valuable because they describe work moving through a system rather than people being busy. Good flow metrics answer where work waits, how much is ageing, and whether completed work is becoming more predictable. Weak flow metrics become a scorecard; strong flow metrics start a conversation about the constraint the team can change.
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