You Have Too Many Metrics

Overview
Metrics are powerful but can become wasteful when too many are tracked. This post explains why each metric should drive action, outlines the costs of setting up and maintaining metrics, and offers guidance on reviewing and using them effectively.

Key Takeaways

• A metric should directly drive action when it falls outside expected bounds.
• Setting up and maintaining metrics consumes time and money, so avoid excess.
• Regular review is essential to keep metrics accurate and actionable.
• Good metrics have clear expectations and trigger prioritized actions.
• Neglected metrics become noisy and can mask underlying issues.

Who Would Benefit

• Engineering managers and technical leads
• Product managers overseeing analytics
• CTOs and VP of Engineering
• Data analysts responsible for dashboards
• Team leads who monitor performance indicators

Frameworks and Methodologies

• Metric review cadence (regular audit of dashboards)