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4.7Setting Targets and Baselines
How to Set a Baseline
- Measure for 3 months without changing anything. This is your baseline.
- Identify the worst metrics -- these are your improvement targets.
- Set realistic improvement goals -- 10-20% improvement per quarter is ambitious but achievable.
- Track monthly and adjust.
Example Baseline and Targets
| Metric | Current Baseline | Q2 Target | Q4 Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defect escape rate | 12% | 8% | 5% |
| Automation ratio | 45% | 55% | 65% |
| Flaky test rate | 8% | 5% | 2% |
| Bug fix cycle time | 5 days | 3 days | 2 days |
| Customer-reported defects/month | 8 | 5 | 3 |