Top 10 Scrum Metrics for Successful Scrum Project Delivery

Scrum Metrics

First, we must know what is scrum? Scrum is the agile methodology of controlling, managing, and tracking projects to successful completion. Initially, the scrum was developed for software development but is used widely in other industries also. 

Now you need to know what are metrics? Metrics are nothing but ways of measurement in any given area or field. The scrum and agile metrics define how the concerned parameters are measured so that data-driven decisions can be taken to move the project successfully towards completion and meet the customer requirements. 

Scrum has a lot of metrics that help the scrum master to determine the progress of the projects, identify issues or problems in the project early, complete the project within the stipulated time, save costs, and control or reduce wastes in the projects. 

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Scrum is part of an agile methodology that consists of three columns those are Backlog items, Sprint backlog, and work done columns. 

• The backlog items consist of the prioritized and sequenced tasks in the bucket to be moved into the sprint backlog. 
• A sprint is an increment of the collection of tasks that are used for the development of the software or other products. 
• A sprint backlog consists of tasks sequenced and prioritized that are moved from the backlog items and are being worked on by resources. 

Finally once the tasks attain the definition of done they are moved into the work done column. To learn scrum and agile methodologies take up the Scrum Master certification online at StarAgile institute.

Top 10 Agile Scrum Metrics

The agile or Scrum metrics examples consist of the measurement of the standards that helps in measuring the SDLC. The metrics cannot be for a person but it is applicable for the entire team and we call it scrum team metrics. Read about the great qualities of a scrum team.

Also Read: Scrum Master Checklist

Also, there are few specific to the scrum master which is discussed as scrum master metrics. However, in a scrum framework, every individual owns and works collaboratively and hence the metrics apply to all and thus prove to be beneficial to the entire agile methodology. 

Agile is the concept heavily dependent on the measure of continuous improvement. Let us jump directly into some of the metrics in the scrum.

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1. Lead time - This is the metric to measure the time from the order received until the order is processed and delivered to the customer. This time has all the things such as meeting time, planning time, and slack time along with WIP time. This can tell us how efficient we are so that a lot of meetings and planning time can be reduced to be competitive in the market. This metric can be called Scrum performance metrics as it tells us how we are performing when compared to the other competitors outside.
2. Blockers - If there is an issued with particular tasks then that task is named and moved to blockers. The blockers are the tasks that prevent the delivery team to proceed further. Once the issue is solved then you can move the tasks again to the tasks board or the sprint backlog.
3. Velocity – This is one of the Metrics used in scrum. This gives the average work done by the team during the sprint. Here there are lots of iterations. The more the iterations the more accurate the measurement will be. It determines the forecast, the number of hours and helps in determining the ability of the team to work with the backlogs. The sprint is plotted in the x-axis and points in the y axis. This is used to determine whether there is a consistent performance by the team.
4. Cumulative flow Diagram - Again in this chart, we can measure and visualize the workflow across the projects.  The backlog, sprint backlogs, and the work done columns are represented with different layers. The process is stable if the rise is uniform and layers are parallel and the same size. If the layers are narrow in the workflow, then the output is more than the rate of entry. If the WIP is inflated then the WIP is having more items and the conversion rate is less. This chart is plotted with work items along the y-axis and dates or the weeks in the x-axis. To learn CFD and other tools register for the certified scrum master online at StarAgile.
5. Value addition - Here in this chart for each every task the dollars or points are attached which helps in prioritizing and work on high-value items. If too much time is spent on the low-value items then the process is not efficient. The higher the dollar value the higher the priority. If the chart shows the upward trend then that is a good sign and the process is in place and smooth. This chart is plotted by considering the weeks in the x-axis and risk and value along the y-axis. To apply real-time scenarios and to learn real-time examples take up the CSM certification online course at StarAgile for the bright future.
6. Epic and Release Burndown chart - This chart helps you to see the burndown of a larger piece of work such as epics. This chart will have many versions and epic of work in the sprint. This enables the whole team to visualize the workflow in one place. We can plot this chart by putting each sprint along the x-axis and story point along the y-axis
7. Cycle time - This is the time starting from when the tasks are taken in WIP or sprint backlog till it reaches the work is done or work completed column in the sprint chart.
8. Control chart - This chart helps in visualizing the cycle time of each task. It tells us the time taken for the tasks to move from the WIP to the Work done status. We can analyze the chart to find out if there are consistent deliveries across the chart from all the teams. This chart is plotted by taking the weeks along on the x-axis and lapsed time in days along the y-axis. This is one of the excellent Metrics for scrum, which helps in controlling the workflow with the help of statistical calculation such as standard deviation, mode, median, mean, and average.
9. Throughput - This represents the team's productivity. It is the measure of story points per iteration. It is the average task processed per unit of time. You can visualize the capacity of the team and the workflow. This also can be taken as scrum master performance metrics as measures the scrum master ability in facilitating the projects by providing the necessary support to the team.  
10. Sprint Burndown Chart- Here the metrics are plotted with X-axis with time and Y-axis with work left. By this chart, the potential issues or burn down of the sprint backlog is forecasted and predicted to help the scrum master if the sprint backlog is nearing the burndown. The target is to complete the tasks at the end of the sprint.

Also Read: PMP vs Scrum

Final Takeaway

Now that you know what are the top key metrics in scrum and agile metrics used in the software development, to proceed further we recommend you register for the Certified Scrum Master course at StarAgile. 

StarAgile is the training partner with Scrum Alliance Inc for conducting a scrum master certification training online course. To learn more register for the scrum master course today. To deepen your expertise and connect with top industry practices, check out our page on Scrum Master Thought Leadership in the USA, featuring insights from leading Agile professionals.

Also Read: How To Make The Best of Your Daily Scrum Meeting?