Agile teams face the challenge of finding metrics that not only quantify progress, but also help to strengthen the team, improve collaboration and focus on customer needs. The so-called DORA DevOps metrics and the SPACE framework can help here.
We have already explained the background to these two models in a detailed article on LinkedIn and here on the blog (see: DORA and SPACE metricsand: Everything you need to know about DORA & SPACE).
In the following post, we have prepared two DORA templates and questions that you can use to start working on improving your delivery today.
Before we delve deeper into this, I would like to point out a key finding from DORA DevOps research that should not be forgotten amidst all the metrics:
"The key takeaway from our year-long research program is that teams that embrace a mindset and practice of continuous improvement are able to achieve the best results."
DORA Metrics: Template, Survey, Test, Questions
DORA DevOps Template Survey
Let's start with a template for the four DORA DevOps key metrics. You can find the 4 questions for each DORA metric below. There are also 4 optional open questions that you can use in whole or in part in your retrospective.
Health Check Survey
Deployment Frequency: I am very happy with how often we deploy code to Prod.
Lead Time for Changes: After the first code has been committed, we can implement it very quickly on Prod.
Change Failure Rate: Our code implementations very rarely lead to errors on Prod.
Time to Restore Service: If an error occurs on Prod, we can fix it very quickly.
Open DORA DevOps questions
What would improve our deployment frequency?
What is our bottleneck to implement tasks faster on Prod?
What would make our deployments less error-prone?
What helps us to quickly rectify errors on Prod?
So this is a simple template that you can use for a workshop or retrospective on the four DORA DevOps key metrics. Let's move on to the SPACE framework.
DORA Metrics: Template, Survey, Test, Questions
SPACE Metrics Template Survey
Equivalently, you can of course also use the SPACE framework to start improving your team based on data by asking a few questions directly in your retrospective. The following five SPACE questions will help you do this.
Health Check Survey
Satisfaction: Looking at the last few weeks, I am very satisfied with my work.
Performance: When I look at our last steps, we were a really productive team.
Activity: If you look at the level of activity in the tools we use (e.g. responsiveness in chats, mutual feedback), we are a really engaged team.
Collaboration & Collaboration: We improve as a team through intensive communication, collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Efficiency & Flow: We complete most tasks quickly and without delays or interruptions.
So this is a simple template that you can use for a workshop or retrospective on the four DORA DevOps key metrics. Let's move on to the SPACE framework.
DORA Metrics: Template, Survey, Test, Questions
SPACE & DORA Template in Echometer
As you have seen, you can run these templates with the Echometer software or the Echometer app in an online or hybrid team.
Echometer is a digital tool that helps agile team leads with agile retrospectives and team Health Checks. Whether remote, hybrid or on-site: it makes team coaching measurable and professionalizes your work while saving you a lot of work. Just take a look at our website to find out more: www.echometerapp.com.
DORA Metrics: Template, Survey, Test, Questions
Conclusion: DORA DevOps Monitoring
Finally, another quick hint: If you would like to know how it feels to develop your team with our tool: You can start an agile retrospective below without logging in, in this case the "Keep, Stop, Start" workshop.
Alternatively, simply forward our website to the responsible colleagues: www.echometerapp.com.
