[ehnto]

> velocity metrics go down and timelines stretch

I think this only works for really particular companies anyway, eg: reasonably flat hierarchy, product owner with product market success.

If you are a startup running out of money, you'll want focus, if you have a tall hierarchy, management will have the say on what you're doing and higher than them will want performance metrics as you pointed out.

It works at Valve, for example, because it rains money on them and they are a flat company. Nearly no time pressure and no overall company goal that needs direction.