Impact Model
EVR Calculator
EVR: A Modern Metric For Project Stability
What Is EVR?
Escape Velocity Rate (EVR) is a new, quantitative metric that reveals whether your engineering team is introducing defects faster than it can fix them.
It helps answer a critical question:
Is my project stable — or at risk of accumulating backlog?
EVR provides an early warning signal of instability, long before schedule or quality issues become visible.
Your EVR Score
1.48
OUT OF CONTROL
Critical: Issues accumulating. Action required.Under Capacity
Healthy
Warning
Out of Control
Interpreting EVR
< 0.6 — Under capacity (opportunity to accelerate)
This is the best position for any project. Your team is fixing issues faster than they can accumulate; you can run faster and deliver higher quality.
0.6 – 0.8 — Healthy, stable zone
Your project is in a stable, sustainable state. Defects are being managed effectively. Continue monitoring to maintain this balance.
0.8 – 1.0 — Warning zone (instability emerging)
Caution: defect accumulation is approaching fix capacity. Without intervention, the project may slip into instability. Consider reallocating resources or reducing scope.
> 1.0 — Out of control (defects accumulate faster than fixes)
Critical: defects are accumulating faster than they can be fixed. The backlog will grow indefinitely. Immediate action is required to stabilize the project.
EVR Calculator
Adjust the values below to see if your project is stable or at risk of accumulating backlog.
| Business Parameters | Value | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Project Inputs | ||
| Number of Developers | User input | |
| Avg Developer Salary ($) | Fully-loaded cost per developer (salary + benefits + overhead) | |
| Project Release Cycle (Months) | Duration for a single project release cycle | |
| Defect Introduction Rate (defects/developer/month) | 3-7 by industry studies (IBM, Microsoft, NASA, Capers Jones, DORA reports) | |
| Average Fix Time (days/defect/developer) | 1-3 days by industry benchmarks (CA Technologies) | |
| 3S Impact Assumptions | ||
| Output | ||
| Total Defects Fixed in Delivery Cycle | 396 | Defect fix capacity in delivery cycle |
| Total Defects Detected in Delivery Cycle | 588 | Defects introduced and detected in delivery cycle |
| EVR Score | 1.48 | Critical: Issues accumulating. Action required. |
Critical EVR? See What's at StakeDefect Backlog ExplosionAnnual Backlog Growth: 384defects accumulate per year when EVR exceeds 1.0 Cost to fix in production: $ 1.89MTechnical debt Team Capacity CrisisTo keep pace, you need: +3developers 48%capacity increase Annual Cost: $ 540KPer year, ongoing | ||
Understanding EVR