How to unlock true ROI in software development – a deep dive into the latest DORA research

This article presents DORA research on calculating the ROI of AI-assisted software development and navigating early adoption challenges.

• •The J-curve model explains why organizations experience temporary productivity dips during AI adoption, caused by learning curves, verification overhead, and pipeline adaptation needs
• •90% of survey respondents use AI at work, but financial returns vary significantly across organizations due to differences in organizational readiness
• •Three primary factors impact early AI adoption: teams need time to master advanced prompting techniques, developers must rigorously review AI-generated code for quality and security, and downstream processes like testing become bottlenecks
• •Organizations can use an interactive ROI calculator to model AI investment costs and benefits, including visible expenses and hidden adoption realities