Metrics — Learning Yield, Carry Cost, and More
Definitions, formulas, and pragmatic collection methods to make debt actionable.
Recommended metric set:
- Learning Yield = insights or reduced uncertainty per unit cost/time.
- Carry Cost = recurring friction time per period (e.g., hours/sprint).
- Reversibility Score = effort to unwind a path (1–5 or hours).
- Option Value Index = future flexibility estimate / investment.
- Debt Velocity = creation vs transformation rate per period.
- Risk Exposure = likelihood × impact, normalized by boundary.
Collection tips:
- Embed small fields in ADRs and incident reviews; avoid separate tools.
- Sample weekly; trends matter more than precision.
- Visualize hotspots by system boundary and class (structural, cognitive, etc.).
Use thresholds (“red zones”) to trigger refinance sprints automatically.