Project velocity refers to the measurement of the total amount of work a team can handle during a specific iteration, usually measured during a sprint in Agile management. It enables teams to better forecast the amount of work that can be completed in future sprints based on past performance. This measurement becomes handy in releasing accurate project estimations and schedules.
Velocity is a simple calculation: at the end of each sprint, you total up points for all fully completed user stories. It will give you a mean team velocity.
Why Measure Velocity?
Measuring velocity acts as a feedback mechanism, providing an insight regarding the team’s capability by reflecting the work done in previous sprints. It encourages teams to learn from the past and to adjust their planning and work patterns accordingly for better performance. Particularly in Agile environments, velocity metrics are dynamic, consistently evolving, and hence requiring teams to monitor and review them regularly.
Steps To Measure Velocity
Below are the key steps involved in measuring velocity:
- Determine the length of your iteration or sprint cycle.
- At the end of each sprint, calculate the total number of story points (or whichever unit of measure you’re using for work estimation) completed during that sprint.
- Repeat this for several sprints to get a range of velocities.
- Calculate the average velocity over these sprints to have a decent baseline for future estimates.
In doing these calculations, one crucial thing to remember is that velocity should only include completed tasks. If a user story or task is not fully completed by the end of the sprint, its points should not be included.
Example
Let’s say we have a team and they have completed three sprints. We will calculate the velocity by summing up the points of the completed user stories for each sprint.
- Sprint 1: Completed Story Points = 15
- Sprint 2: Completed Story Points = 20
- Sprint 3: Completed Story Points = 17
From above, we can calculate an average velocity:
(15+20+17) / 3 = 17.33 (round to 17)
So typically, this team completes around 17 points per sprint. This data can be used to predict how much work the team can pull in coming sprints.
Conclusion
Velocity gives everyone – the team, the scrum master, the product owner, stakeholders – a common ground to set and manage expectations. It promotes transparency and predictability, two of the crucial facets of Agile values.
Remember, however, that velocity is not the ultimate goal. A high velocity with poor-quality work makes no positive impact. Therefore, while considering the quantitative measure of speed, do not overlook the qualitative aspects of work. In the end, a balance between speed and quality will successfully push the team forward.
Practice Test
True or False: Velocity tracking refers to measuring the work done by a team during previous iterations or releases.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Velocity tracking indeed measures the amount of work a team gets done during a particular iteration or release.
Which of the following are benefits of tracking and measuring velocity of a team? (Select all that apply)
- A. More accurate forecasting
- B. Better understanding of the team’s capacity
- C. Improved team morale
- D. Increased project costs
Answer: A, B, C
Explanation: By tracking and measuring the team’s velocity, members can forecast more accurately, understand their capacity better and improve team morale. It will not increase project costs.
True or False: Velocity tracking can lead to unrealistic productivity expectations.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Velocity tracking helps to establish realistic productivity goals based on past performance and capacity.
What is the main purpose of tracking and measuring actual performance in previous iterations or releases?
- A. To punish the team for their mistakes
- B. To improve future forecasts and understand the team’s capacity better
- C. To add extra work for the team
- D. To compare the team with other teams
Answer: B
Explanation: The goal of tracking and measuring the team’s performance in previous iterations or releases is to improve the accuracy of future forecasts and gain a better understanding of the team’s capacity.
True or False: Tracking velocity can lead to a better understanding of the team’s weaknesses and strengths.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: By tracking velocity, patterns of strengths and weaknesses can be identified which can be used for improving team performance.
The velocity of a team does not need to be considered while planning future sprints. (True/False)
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: The velocity of a team gives valuable insights about the team’s capacity which can be used while planning future sprints.
Understanding the team’s velocity can help in which of the following?
- A. Identifying individual weak performers
- B. Complimenting high performers
- C. Creating more accurate forecasts
Answer: C
Explanation: Velocity is a team metric, not an individual one. It aids in creating more accurate forecasts.
Velocity tracking cannot provide a quantifiable measure of a team’s capacity. (True/False)
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Velocity tracking provides a reliable measure of how much work a team can get done in a set period of time, thereby quantifying team’s capacity.
Team velocity can be influenced by which of the following factors?
- A. Team size
- B. Team skill
- C. Clarity of project requirements
- D. All of the above
Answer: D
Explanation: All the mentioned factors have an impact on the team’s velocity.
True or False: A higher velocity always means a team is more efficient.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: A higher velocity may not necessarily mean that a team is more efficient. It could be influenced by factors such as team size, the complexity of work etc. Comparing velocity between teams is not usually recommended.
Interview Questions
What is the purpose of tracking velocity in Agile based project management?
The purpose of tracking velocity in Agile is to help the team understand its work capacity, improve the accuracy of the forecast, and better predict delivery timelines.
How does tracking past performance help improve the accuracy of future forecasts?
By tracking past performance, the team can identify their typical velocity, or amount of work that they can complete in a given time frame, which can then be used to make more accurate predictions for future work.
What is considered as basis for measuring velocity in Agile methodology?
The basis for measuring velocity in Agile methodology is the number of points, or tasks, completed in previous iterations or releases.
Which PMI-ACP certification topic does the practice of measuring team velocity falls under?
Measuring team velocity falls under the topic of Agile metrics and tools.
How is velocity calculated in Agile project management?
Velocity is calculated by taking the average number of story points completed in the last few iterations.
What is the benefit of maintaining velocity in Agile project management?
Maintaining velocity helps in managing workload, reducing burnout, and continuously delivering value to the customers. It leads to predictable delivery and improved customer satisfaction.
How does tracking velocity promote sustainable development in Agile teams?
By tracking velocity, teams can ensure that they are not overcommitting and maintain a sustainable work pace, which is key to long-term project and team health.
What are some common velocity tracking tools that Agile teams might use?
Jira, Trello, and VersionOne are among many project management tools that offer features for tracking velocity.
What can an Agile team do if their velocity is consistently lower than expected?
The team can look into impediments that are causing the low velocity such as poorly defined user stories or external dependencies, and take actions to eliminate those impediments.
Can velocity be used as a metric to compare different Agile teams?
No, velocity is a unique measurement for each team and does not provide a meaningful comparison across different teams as each team may have their unique scale for assigning story points.
What Agile principle does the practice of measuring team velocity align with?
The practice of measuring team velocity aligns with the Agile principle of regular reflection on team performance for continuous improvement.
How can measuring velocity help in risk management?
By giving a more accurate picture of the team’s capacity and pace of work, velocity can help identify potential risks or roadblocks in the project timeline early.
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