When you think of the DORA metrics, you probably imagine big enterprises with large teams, heavy processes, and dashboards for everything. But does DORA make sense for scrappy startups who are just trying to ship fast and stay afloat? This question came up on the Engineering Success Podcast, and Nathan Harvey from Google DORA had some great points about how even the smallest teams can benefit from DORA’s principles.

Why Startups Should Care About DORA

Nathan kicked things off by addressing a common misconception:

"DORA isn’t just about dashboards and metrics. At its core, it’s about helping teams get better at getting better. That philosophy applies whether you’re a team of one or a thousand."

For startups, it’s less about measuring perfect numbers and more about building habits of continuous improvement. The point isn’t to obsess over deployment frequency or change lead times right away, but to have regular conversations about whether things are improving.

"If you’re in a startup," Nathan said, "just ask: Are we delivering better than we were last month? Are we getting feedback from users faster? That’s DORA’s essence right there."

How Startups Can Use DORA Metrics

Startups don’t need to measure every metric from day one, but keeping track of trends and outcomes early can help lay the groundwork for better practices. Nathan emphasized:

"Even small teams can benefit from metrics. Deployment frequency and lead time for changes don’t have to be perfect,you just need enough visibility to know if you’re moving in the right direction."

For example, tracking how often you’re deploying or how quickly you’re responding to issues can spark meaningful discussions during retrospectives:

• Are deployments smoother now than they were last month?
• Are user complaints going down?
• What’s slowing us down the most?

When Metrics Start to Matter

As your startup grows, the complexity of your team and product will too. That’s when having concrete metrics becomes more valuable. Nathan explained:

"Metrics bring discipline and structure. They help you see patterns and make better decisions as you scale. It’s not about the dashboard itself, but what you learn from the data."

Rishi, CTO of DevDynamics, shared a similar perspective:

"When I was managing larger teams at Walmart and Disney, metrics like deployment frequency and lead time became critical. But in the early days of DevDynamics, it was just about building a rhythm of improvement and learning from mistakes."

Tailor DORA to Your Context

Both Nathan and Rishi stressed that DORA isn’t one-size-fits-all. For startups, it’s more about adapting the principles to your stage and needs:

"You’re not going to have the same processes as a multinational enterprise, and that’s fine," Nathan said. "The goal is to build a culture where you’re always looking for ways to improve how you deliver value."

Key Takeaways for Startup Leaders

• Focus on Improvement, Not Perfection: DORA is about getting better, not chasing perfect metrics.
• Start with Basic Metrics: Track deployment frequency and lead time to spark meaningful discussions.
• Scale Metrics as You Grow: As your team expands, metrics like change failure rate and time to restore service can bring clarity and structure.
• Adapt to Your Needs: Don’t blindly follow what big companies do. Use DORA principles in a way that works for your startup.
  

DORA’s principles are universal, but their application should always fit your team’s size and maturity. Whether you’re a lean startup or an enterprise giant, the goal remains the same: deliver value, learn fast, and improve continuously.

Watch the full podcast here -

"DORA isn’t about being an elite performer; it’s about being an elite improver." - Nathen