Coming soon · Book Profile
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Rigorous, survey-based research proves that specific technical, management, and cultural capabilities causally drive software delivery performance, which in turn drives organizational performance, employee well-being, and competitive advantage.
A profile of this book is on the way.
What it’s about
Accelerate distills four years of scientific research (23,000+ survey responses from 2,000+ organizations) into a clear, evidence-based map of what actually makes technology organizations high-performing. Rejecting anecdote, maturity models, and the false tradeoff between speed and stability, Forsgren, Humble, and Kim identify 24 concrete capabilities—spanning continuous delivery, architecture, product management, Lean management, and culture—that predict superior software delivery performance, which then predicts profitability, productivity, market share, customer satisfaction, and mission outcomes. The book shows leaders and practitioners how to measure delivery performance (deployment frequency, lead time, time to restore service, change fail rate), how to change culture by changing practices, and how these capabilities also reduce burnout and deployment pain while improving employee loyalty. Part II explains the research methods so readers can trust the findings, and Part III offers a real-world transformation case study at ING. It is a foresight tool for CEOs, CIOs, and CFOs and an actionable playbook for teams.
The through-line
- Who it’s for
- A technology leader or practitioner who wants to build a high-performing organization that delivers quality software quickly and reliably while keeping teams healthy and engaged.
- The problem
- Slow lead times, buggy output, painful deployments, and an inability to reliably improve software delivery performance. They feel uncertain about which practices actually matter, frustrated by anecdote-driven advice, and anxious that they may be falling behind competitors.
- The plan
- Measure your software delivery performance using the four key metrics.
- Assess and develop your organizational (Westrum generative) culture.
- Implement continuous delivery: version control, test/deployment automation, trunk-based development, continuous integration, shift left on security.
- Adopt loosely coupled architecture and empower teams to choose their tools.
- Apply Lean management (WIP limits, visual displays, monitoring, lightweight change approval) and Lean product development (small batches, customer feedback, experimentation).
- The payoff
- Faster, more frequent, lower-risk software delivery with high stability. · Higher profitability, productivity, and market share; better mission outcomes. · Happier, healthier, more loyal teams with less burnout and deployment pain.
See our guide
Additional reading
- The Joel Test: 12 Steps to Better Code · Joel Spolsky
It is the direct inspiration for 'The Rands Test'. The author presents his own test as an homage to Spolsky's, focusing on team health and communication rather than just code quality.
- The 48 Laws of Power · Robert Greene and Joost Elffers
The author contrasts his human-centric management style with the manipulative, power-focused laws in this book, arguing that business isn't war and that a focus on power alone will lead to failure.
- Code Complete · Steve McConnell
Used to illustrate the power of metaphors in a technical field, which the author contrasts with the often unhelpful and untrusted metaphors of 'managementese'.
- Being Geek · Michael Lopp (Rands)
The author's other book, referenced to discuss the 'curse of Silicon Valley' where great engineers are promoted into management roles they are ill-suited for.
- Continuous Delivery · Jez Humble and David Farley
Provides an in-depth exploration of the foundational technical principles and practices that are statistically shown in Accelerate to drive high performance.
- The Phoenix Project · Gene Kim, Kevin Behr, and George Spafford
Offers a narrative, novel-style introduction to the core problems and DevOps principles that Accelerate measures and validates scientifically.
- The Lean Startup · Eric Ries
Explains the principles of experimental product development, working in small batches (MVPs), and validated learning, which are identified as key capabilities in Accelerate's research.
- Lean Enterprise · Jez Humble, Joanne Molesky, and Barry O'Reilly
Addresses how to apply the principles of Lean, DevOps, and continuous delivery at scale within large, complex organizations, a common context for readers of Accelerate.
- The Art of Business Value · Mark Schwartz
Cited in the book, it explores the relationship between IT work and business value, providing context for why improving software delivery performance matters to the broader organization.
- Publications by Ron Westrum · Ron Westrum
His work provides the theoretical foundation for the Westrum organizational culture model, a cornerstone of the book's analysis of culture and its impact on performance.