Measuring Productivity: All Models are Wrong But Some are Useful

IEEE Software, 42 (2025), pp. 13-17

Abstract

Measuring productivity is equivalent to building a model. All models are wrong, but some are useful. Productivity models are often “worryingly selective” (wrong because of omissions). Worrying selectivity can be combated by taking a holistic approach that includes multiple measurements of multiple outcomes. Productivity models should include multiple outcomes, metrics, and methods.