Nathen leads Google Cloud's DORA research program — the most comprehensive longitudinal study of software delivery performance. He covers what the 2024 data actually says about high-performing teams, what leaders get wrong about DORA metrics (using them as KPIs instead of diagnostic tools), and how AI is changing delivery without changing the fundamentals of what makes teams great.
What we covered
- DORA metrics
- developer experience
- AI in delivery
What I took away
- DORA metrics are diagnostic tools — optimising for them directly will backfire
- Rework rate is an underused but powerful signal for engineering quality
- High-performing teams in 2024 aren't necessarily the fastest — they're the most reliable
- AI improves individual productivity but doesn't yet replace strong team practices
- Developer experience and business outcomes are directly correlated in DORA data