Burn Down Chart Symptomatics by Dmytro Bibikov

Burn Down ChartSymptomatics

• May 2015• Dmytro Bibikov

Thinking Session

BDC

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Where – Scrum Framework SDLC

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When – Iteration / Release

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Why – Keep Constraints on Track

Iron Triangle

Interpreting

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What:

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• Make the reality of the project clear.• Show the impact of decisions.• Warn you early if things aren't going according

to plan.• Get rid of all the wishful thinking around dates.

Why interpret BDC?!

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• Remaining effort for a given period of time.Simplicity vs Information

Must contain:• X axis – remaining time• Y axis – remaining effort• Ideal effort as a guideline• Real progress of effort

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How Simple and Transperant

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• Story PointsMeasures of Effort

• Items / Tasks

• Hours / Ideal Days

Symptomatics

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No Comments… or ‘Simple Case’

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Hey team, this is even worse. Maybe you completed something but completed work is not visible as a progress!• See Oh, management

is coming! chart• Sprint might be still in

progress

Do Your Duties!!!What to improve?Restart. From scratch, from training. Do retrospective to figure out why this is happening.

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• Stories/tasks are added into backlog constantly.• More work is added

than completed.• Tasks are re-estimated

constantly.• you will never be able

to complete the sprint if you will not fix it.

First Sprint in life – Up to the Sky

What to improve?Estimate stories/tasks immediately and update your backlog.Do not forget to start sprint if you use electronic tool.

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Bump on the RoadBurn up first, then burn down.• Stories not estimated at the beginning of

sprint• Stories added till mid of the sprint.• Appropriate recognition of incorrect situation

in the mid of the sprint. Positive, but late.What to improve?• Restart your sprint by planning.

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Hey team, you are not doing what is necessary! Where are you going to? How do you know whether you are able to finish the sprint on time?• Maybe team is doing a work, but there is

someone adding an amount equal to completed work.• Team doesn’t update remaining time regularly.• Send Scrum Master and team back to training• Maybe stories were overestimated.• Product owner doesn’t take care as well.

Management is coming!

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What to improve?• Stop the line after see line of 3 days

as row. Initiate retrospective immediately.

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• Stories underestimated• Low commitment of

the team• Incorrect sprint

capacity calculation• Stories not grabbed

from the next sprint• Some team members

do not have tasks assigned.

Too EarlyWhat to improve?After two or three days Scrum Master should ask if there is anything team can do from the next sprint. If yes then assign

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Too Late“You did not completed your commitment”. And you were all the time late.• Tasks not completed• Adaptation not done

during the sprint

What to improve?Check if size of the sprint backlog is not growing. Stop the production line as soon as possible, before the sprint. Remove low priority stories from the sprint.

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This burn down chart indicates your team is fine to have a time to rest.• Team has finished work

earlier than expected, but could do more.

• Maybe there are not enough items in sprint backlog

• Maybe team is larger than expected at the beginning

• Stories might be overestimated

Let’s have a rest teamWhat to improve?Get additional stories as soon as possible form the next sprint according priorities.

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This is typical burn down chart you can see in many already experienced team.• Team committed to goal• Adapted scope in case of need• Team improving speed to get

things done• Team is asking How we are

going to complete the sprint• At the end they can grab

additional stories from the next sprint

Nice TeamWhat to improve?Stop before middle of the sprint and discuss how to get back on track.Something with lower priority should go out of your sprint backlog.

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This is typical burn down chart you can see in many already experienced team.• A team committed to

a goal• Adapted scope in

case of need• Team improving

speed to get things done

Great TeamWhat to improve?Grab additional stories from the next sprint you are able to complete in the sprint.

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Once you see such burn down chart congratulate to the team• They are doing great job.• Not over-committing• Not  late• Not earlier• On time• Mastership

Ideal TeamWhat to improve?Just continue!

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• Scrum Team has Full Authority to admit need for change, define approach, apply solution… Knowledge is the key.

Conclusion and Inspiration

Thank you!

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• http://www.methodsandtools.com/archive/scrumburndown.php

• http://www.scrumdesk.com/is-it-your-burn-down-chart/• http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newPPM_54.htm• http://www.ambysoft.com/essays/brokenTriangle.html• https://

www.mountaingoatsoftware.com/agile/scrum/release-burndown

• http://www.agilenutshell.com/burndown • http://

www.clariostechnology.com/productivity/blog/burnupvsburndownchart

• http://www.slideshare.net/MatthewWarton/burn-down-vs-burn-up-charts

References