It has been over three months since I introduced Flow Metrics to my team. My team has changed their mindset when it comes to work. Today, I am going to discuss how I apply Flow Metrics to the team.
Before implementing Flow Metrics, I created a spreadsheet and recorded all the Product Backlog Items (PBIs) created in 2023. Following Daniel Vacanti’s Flow Metrics for Scrum Team, the spreadsheet includes an Aging Work in Progress Chart, Cycle Time Scatterplot, and two Monte Carlo Simulations: “How Many” and “How Long.” I obtained the Service Level Expectation (SLE) for the Cycle Time.
During Sprint Planning, our focus is on the Sprint Goal and why we have this particular Sprint. Once we establish the Sprint Goal, planning for the Sprint Backlog becomes easier. Usually, we are not asked how many PBIs we expect to include in the Sprint Backlog. However, if someone does inquire, we can easily refer to our Monte Carlo “How Many” simulation.
During the Daily Scrum, we inspect progress towards the Sprint Goal and adapt the Sprint Backlog as needed. We begin with the three traditional questions outlined in the 2017 Scrum Guide. Additionally, we check if any PBIs exceed our SLE in terms of aging. If a PBI reaches the 50th percentile line, it indicates that it has aged longer than half of all the previous PBIs. In such cases, we take action by either breaking it down into smaller PBIs or allocating more resources to it.
Since Flow Metrics predominantly focus on output rather than outcome, we rarely use them during the Sprint Review. Instead, we utilize them in our Sprint Retrospective. We review the Cycle Time Scatterplot and discuss measures to enhance effectiveness. I unintentionally discovered that this single spreadsheet brings forth a multitude of discussion topics.
That is how I apply Flow Metrics to the team. The team now actively manages the PBIs in the Sprint Backlog, resulting in a decrease in the Cycle Time of the PBIs. Additionally, I have utilized Flow Metrics in areas beyond the Scrum Events. In my next discussion, I will cover Flow Metrics for Product Backlog management.