By Glue Team
Most engineering teams have short feedback loops: write code → tests run → code reviewed → changes deployed.
But they're missing a longer feedback loop: does the shipped code actually drive business results?
This longer loop connects engineering to product outcomes. It looks like this:
- Code is shipped
- Feature is released
- Users interact with feature
- Metrics change (or don't)
- Learnings are fed back to engineering
Without this loop, engineering operates in a vacuum. They can ship features perfectly but still miss the market. Velocity is optimized. Impact isn't.
When the Loop Is Broken
Engineers don't know if their features matter to users. They ship and move on to the next feature.
PMs don't know if the engineered solution matches the problem. They see code shipped, not impact.
Technical decisions are made without product context. "We need to improve performance" becomes a vague goal with no target metric.
Velocity is optimized instead of value delivery. The team ships fast but not in the right direction.
Closing the Loop
Glue bridges engineering and product by making the feedback loop explicit:
Feature mapping. Which code implements which features? Engineers see what they built impact the product.
Impact analysis. How does this code change affect system performance, user experience, business metrics?
Risk assessment. Which changes are risky? Which are safe? Engineers make better decisions.
Outcomes linking. Connect shipped code to product metrics. Engineers see whether their work mattered.
Building a Feedback Culture
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Define metrics for each feature before building it. What success looks like.
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Monitor results after launch. Track metrics. Did adoption happen? Did retention improve?
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Share learnings with the engineering team. "This feature shipped but nobody used it." Or "This shipped and drove 15% conversion improvement."
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Iterate based on data. Next version of the feature improves based on what you learned.
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Link decisions to outcomes. Over time, engineers learn which types of decisions drive impact.
With visibility into outcomes, engineering becomes strategic. Engineers see the impact of their work. They make better tradeoff decisions. They stay motivated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we know if a feature was successful? Define metrics before launch. Adoption rate, engagement, revenue impact, retention. Measure them after launch. If metrics don't improve, the feature missed the market.
What if a feature ships but nobody uses it? That's valuable feedback. The engineering worked perfectly. The product missed the market. Learn why and iterate. This is the feedback loop at work.