Four tips for using metrics on your project


1. Improved performance of the overall project fulfillment and delivery process
2. Improved estimating for future projects
3. Validation of duration, cost, effort and quality objectives for the project
4. Identification and communication of best practices
5. Improved client satisfaction

In general, metrics provide a more factual and quantitative basis for understanding how you are doing and the things that can be done better. Without at least some basic metric information, all discussions on performance and improvement are based on anecdotal evidence, perceptions, and guesses. Collect metrics, even if they are imperfect and imprecise. They still provide a better foundation than recollections, perceptions and guesses.

Collect the metrics you’ll use

You don’t want to collect metrics just for the sake of collecting them. Of course, you need to collect any metrics that are mandatory for your organisation. In addition, you should collect any other metrics that are needed by your particular project. However, if you don’t have a purpose for the metrics, or if your project isn’t long enough that you can really leverage the information, these customised project specific metrics are not worth collecting for your project.

Make sure the value of collecting a metric is worth the cost

Just as there is some cost associated with most project management activities, there’s a cost to collecting and managing a metrics process. Some metrics are interesting, but don’t provide the type of information that can be leveraged for improvement. Some metrics are just prohibitively expensive to collect. The cost to collect each metric must be balanced against the potential benefit that will be gained. Start by gathering metrics that your organisation requires. Then add metrics that have the lowest cost and effort to collect and can provide the highest potential benefit.

Make sure your metrics tell a complete story

The problem with many metrics is that they’re reported in a way that doesn’t tell a complete story. The project manager and project team may know what a given metric is telling them, but other people accessing the information may not.


Train your team in the purpose and value of metrics


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