Definition
Portion of code changes that are writing brand-new code (not maintenance updates).
Why it matters
This represents the percentage of changes to your codebase that are new additions, rather than edits to existing code. A high Innovation Rate could mean that your team is spending their time breaking ground to create new features, or expanding on the functionality of an existing feature.
How to use it
Use Innovation Rate to ensure your team is delivering new value for users, in addition to performing necessary maintenance work. Finding the right Innovation Rate is dependent on your current product roadmap. Make sure it's in line with your expectations of the time teams should be spending on new value for users vs. necessary maintenance work.
Benchmarks
The median organization has a Innovation Rate of 77%. The bottom tenth of organizations have an Innovation Rate of 72% or less, while, at the other extreme, a tenth have a rate of at least 82%.