If you’re just starting to implement DORA metrics, congrats! These metrics are powerful tools for improving your engineering team’s performance and efficiency. However, many people make common mistakes during the process that can undermine the full potential these metrics offer.
In this post, we’re going to cover the main mistakes people make when adopting DORA metrics, along with practical tips on how to avoid them. Our goal is to help you steer clear of pitfalls and fast-track your way to better results.
Underestimating the importance of team context
When companies start using DORA metrics, it’s easy to want to apply them blindly without considering the specific context and needs of the team. Every organization is unique, with different team sizes, processes, and cultures. What works for a 10-person startup might not work for a large corporation.
So before implementing the metrics, take some time to analyze your environment. Talk with your team about the challenges they’re facing and which metrics could provide valuable insights. Remember: it’s not about collecting data for the sake of it, but making sure the metrics align with your organization’s goals. Without this, you risk going down a path that won’t bring real value.
Measuring without a baseline
Another common mistake is starting to measure DORA metrics without having a clear baseline. Imagine trying to improve a team’s efficiency without knowing how they were performing before. This creates a situation where it’s impossible to tell if your efforts are actually making an impact.
Setting a baseline is the first step to ensuring you can compare performance over time. To do this, you’ll need to collect data over an initial period before making any changes. That way, you’ll have a reliable point of comparison to spot real improvements or emerging problems.
Focusing on quantity over quality
Once they have metrics in hand, many managers make the mistake of focusing only on the numbers. The same goes for DORA metrics. For example, increasing deployment frequency might seem like a good thing at first glance, but it’s only beneficial if those deployments are actually delivering value without compromising stability.
The focus should be on the quality of deliveries, not just quantity. High deployment frequency with an equally high failure rate won’t bring real improvements to the business. Similarly, quick recovery from failure only makes sense if the team is implementing effective changes to prevent future failures.
Using DORA Metrics as pressure tools instead of improvement tools
One of the most harmful mistakes when adopting these metrics is turning them into tools for pressuring the team instead of using them as instruments for improving processes. The temptation to demand more deployments or shorter recovery times can be strong, especially when metric numbers are presented in isolation without proper context. When metrics are used solely as a means of “pushing,” the team can feel overwhelmed and demotivated.
The point here is that DORA metrics were created to provide valuable insights that help identify bottlenecks and optimization opportunities. They shouldn’t be seen as rigid targets used to punish the team if certain numbers aren’t met. When used as pressure tools, the result can be exactly the opposite of what you want: a stressed-out team that starts “gaming the numbers” instead of focusing on delivering quality value.
Instead, metrics should be used to foster a learning environment and continuous improvement culture where failures are growth opportunities rather than reasons for punishment.
Not considering how interconnected DORA Metrics are
DORA metrics are deeply interconnected, and it’s a common mistake to try improving just one without considering its impact on the others. For example, if the team focuses only on reducing Lead Time for Changes (the time between submitting a change and deploying it), they might start deploying more frequently but with poorly tested or lower-quality changes.
This can then increase Change Failure Rate (the rate of failed changes) and lead to a higher Mean Time to Recovery (the average time it takes to recover from failures). In this scenario, trying to improve one metric ends up hurting others, creating a vicious cycle of problems.
That’s why it’s crucial to look at these metrics holistically. Improving Lead Time for Changes is important but not at the expense of stability and quality. Balancing these metrics is key to ensuring your team continues delivering value without compromising system reliability and health.
Lack of continuous feedback
Implementing DORA metrics is just the beginning. A critical mistake is not maintaining a continuous feedback loop based on these metric results. Collecting data only makes sense if it’s used to drive constant improvements and adjust processes as needed.
Have regular review cycles like retrospectives where metric data is openly discussed by the team. This promotes a culture of transparency and learning while ensuring everyone stays aligned with improvement goals. Without this feedback loop, metrics can lose their value over time.
Ignoring how long changes take
Implementing DORA metrics is a process that takes time. Expecting quick results is another common mistake that can lead to frustration. Just like any significant change, improving an engineering team’s efficiency is a gradual process.
The improvements you’ll see from monitoring and adjusting DORA metrics may not be immediate, but they will be long-lasting. So be patient and give your team time to adapt to changes, learn from data, and make necessary adjustments. Successful metric implementation requires long-term thinking.
Stay focused on continuous evolution
Implementing DORA metrics can transform your engineering team’s performance—but only if done carefully. Avoiding these common mistakes is essential for ensuring that these metrics don’t become just another checkbox but rather a powerful tool for continuous improvement.
Remember: The ultimate goal isn’t just hitting better numbers but creating a more agile, productive, and collaborative work environment. By using DORA metrics correctly, you’ll help your team identify bottlenecks, improve processes, and ultimately deliver more value to the business.
