A guide to DORA metrics

The DevOps Research and Assessment (DORA) group has identified four key metrics—deployment frequency, lead time for changes, change failure rate, and time to restore service—as indicators of an organization's DevOps performance, based on extensive survey data from over 30,000 respondents. High-performing organizations are characterized by rapid deployment, quick recovery from incidents, and efficient handling of security issues. The DORA team categorizes DevOps organizations into four types: Starting, Flowing, Slowing, and Retiring, each reflecting different levels of performance and focus. The metrics help organizations improve decision-making, deliver value, and pursue continuous improvement by highlighting areas for enhancement. However, challenges include data collection inconsistencies and the need to consider unique organizational contexts when comparing performance. Tools such as Google’s Four Keys can facilitate data aggregation and visualization, providing insights into the DORA metrics to guide teams toward more effective software delivery practices.