Body of Knowledge · Glossary
Goodhart's law
When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure. It explains how healthy activity metrics can sit alongside flat outcomes, and it is the caution attached to every metric in this standard.
Where the standard develops it
- DE-5Designing how work flowsProcess selection, developer experience, and AI-assisted workflows.
- SV-5Engineering metrics and measurementChoosing, interpreting, and not gaming them, including measuring AI impact.
Related terms
- Aligned autonomy
- Direction, priorities and boundary standards set centrally, with methods left to teams.
- Developer experience
- The friction between an engineer and a shipped change (feedback loops, cognitive load, flow state), treated as measurable capacity.
- DORA metrics
- The four research-validated delivery measures (deployment frequency, lead time for changes, change failure rate, time to restore service).
- Falsifiable scorecard
- A small, stable set of measures declared when a strategy is set, able to show that the strategy is failing.
- Operating cadence
- An organisation's rhythm of planning, review and escalation.
Cite this definition
Chicago, BibTeX and licence →Engineering Management Academy. (2026). Goodhart's law. In Engineering Management Academy Body of Knowledge (Version 3.1, GLO.goodhart-s-law). https://www.engineeringmanagement.academy/body-of-knowledge/glossary/goodhart-s-law