Where to Start with Nicole Forsgren
Nicole Forsgren is a researcher, executive, and one of the most influential figures in the DevOps movement. She holds a PhD and is best known as the lead investigator on the largest DevOps studies to date, the annual State of DevOps reports conducted in partnership with Puppet and later Google Cloud. Her research established the empirical foundation for what drives high performance in software delivery, connecting technical practices like continuous integration and trunk-based development to measurable business outcomes. She has served as a Partner at Microsoft Research and VP of Research & Strategy at GitHub. Her co-authored book Accelerate, written with Jez Humble and Gene Kim, won the Shingo Publication Award and became a foundational text for engineering leaders working to improve their organizations.
Start here
Accelerate
Nicole Forsgren, Jez Humble & Gene Kim · 288 pages · 2018 · Moderate
Themes: devops, software delivery, lean, continuous delivery, engineering metrics
The definitive research-backed guide to building high-performing technology organizations. Forsgren, Humble, and Kim present findings from four years of State of DevOps research, identifying 24 key capabilities that predict software delivery performance and business outcomes. The book bridges the gap between academic research and practical engineering leadership.
Why Start Here
Accelerate is Forsgren’s signature work and the one that cemented her reputation as the leading researcher in DevOps and software delivery performance. The book represents the culmination of years of survey data collected from thousands of professionals, analyzed with rigorous statistical methods. It is the essential starting point for understanding her contributions to the field.
What to Expect
A 288-page book in two parts. The first covers what high-performing teams do differently, written accessibly for a general audience. The second dives into research methodology for readers who want to understand the statistical foundations. Most readers focus on part one. Winner of the Shingo Publication Award.