Measuring Productivity in Software Development - Is It Even Possible?

James Shore's article discusses the usefulness of productivity measures within the context of software development. He highlights that traditional methods of measuring productivity can be misleading and fail to capture one of the most important characteristics of software teams - the quality of their work. Rather than focusing solely on numbers like hours worked or tasks completed, the author proposes a more holistic approach that considers various aspects of team dynamics. Specifically, he emphasizes the importance of recognizing the value delivered by a team and the effectiveness of collaborative efforts. Understanding this value can lead project managers to better organize work and increase team member satisfaction. The article concludes with several tips on how to measure productivity better in a teamwork context, which can be beneficial for many managers in their day-to-day project management.