Cycle Time Chart

Cycle time refers to the duration required to complete a specific unit of work, such as an epic, user story, or task. It is most commonly utilized at the user story level.

It is calculated at the time taken from the moment the work transitions from a not started state to an in-progress state and continues until it reaches the final done state.

A cycle time chart effectively visualizes these cycle times, organized by point or t-shirt size estimates. This visual representation allows the team to discern the typical duration it takes to complete stories of various sizes.

The chart not only offers valuable feedback on the accuracy of their estimations but also highlights any unusual instances that require investigation and possible retrospective analysis. By analyzing outliers, the team can identify potential issues and improve their future estimation and development processes.

By focusing on reducing variance in these cycle times the team can effectively stabilize their velocity and narrow the projected cone of uncertainty on their burnup chart.