Comments on: Burn-up and burn-down charts http://niksilver.com/2008/01/19/burn-up-and-burn-down-charts/ Mostly about the management of software development Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:48:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Rob Myers http://niksilver.com/2008/01/19/burn-up-and-burn-down-charts/comment-page-1/#comment-33959 Rob Myers Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:40:23 +0000 http://niksilver.com/2008/01/19/burn-up-and-burn-down-charts/#comment-33959 Even though burn-downs are simpler, burn-ups are pretty simple, and the motivational "goal" is to watch the lines meet at the end of the iteration (or release, if a release burn-up). In fact, though there is a motivational factor here, this graph is more significant as a reality-check and planning tool. The lines at the end WILL meet. There is no way around it, unless you know how to stop time (and you don't). That's what I like most about the burn-up: It readily reveals scope-creep (which could get hidden by a burn-down) and it shows the opposite, too, when scope is cut in order to meet the deadline. Burn-downs show scope reductions as some strange miraculous period of performance. "Why can't your team work like that all the time?" Let it be an information-radiator, not a motivation-radiator, and it will motivate. Let it be a reflection of what's really happening, rather than fudging the numbers. Nice graphic, BTW. Can I borrow your burn-down for Agile 2009? It shows up as one of the first in a Google Images search for "chart down" or whatever I asked for... ;-) Even though burn-downs are simpler, burn-ups are pretty simple, and the motivational “goal” is to watch the lines meet at the end of the iteration (or release, if a release burn-up). In fact, though there is a motivational factor here, this graph is more significant as a reality-check and planning tool. The lines at the end WILL meet. There is no way around it, unless you know how to stop time (and you don’t). That’s what I like most about the burn-up: It readily reveals scope-creep (which could get hidden by a burn-down) and it shows the opposite, too, when scope is cut in order to meet the deadline. Burn-downs show scope reductions as some strange miraculous period of performance. “Why can’t your team work like that all the time?”

Let it be an information-radiator, not a motivation-radiator, and it will motivate. Let it be a reflection of what’s really happening, rather than fudging the numbers.

Nice graphic, BTW. Can I borrow your burn-down for Agile 2009? It shows up as one of the first in a Google Images search for “chart down” or whatever I asked for… ;-)

]]> By: Jesse http://niksilver.com/2008/01/19/burn-up-and-burn-down-charts/comment-page-1/#comment-33958 Jesse Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:29:04 +0000 http://niksilver.com/2008/01/19/burn-up-and-burn-down-charts/#comment-33958 I'm surprised at how many people use burn down charts over burn up charts which are way more informative. It's hard to find burn up chart software. I'm using NXS-7's Task Analytics http://task-analytics.com burn up charts. It's been pretty good. I’m surprised at how many people use burn down charts over burn up charts which are way more informative. It’s hard to find burn up chart software. I’m using NXS-7’s Task Analytics http://task-analytics.com burn up charts. It’s been pretty good.

]]> By: Marcin http://niksilver.com/2008/01/19/burn-up-and-burn-down-charts/comment-page-1/#comment-33957 Marcin Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:41:33 +0000 http://niksilver.com/2008/01/19/burn-up-and-burn-down-charts/#comment-33957 I hope you don't mind we're referencing this article on Banana Scrum site http://www.bananascrum.com/news/2009/07/16/track-the-progress-of-your-team-with-burnup-chart/ Thanks, I hope you don’t mind we’re referencing this article on Banana Scrum site http://www.bananascrum.com/news/2009/07/16/track-the-progress-of-your-team-with-burnup-chart/

Thanks,

]]> By: Nik http://niksilver.com/2008/01/19/burn-up-and-burn-down-charts/comment-page-1/#comment-33948 Nik Fri, 29 May 2009 17:06:08 +0000 http://niksilver.com/2008/01/19/burn-up-and-burn-down-charts/#comment-33948 Burn up charts aren't just to track feature creep, but also changes in estimates. Though I agree about the motivational benefits of a line cruising to zero. Burn up charts aren’t just to track feature creep, but also changes in estimates. Though I agree about the motivational benefits of a line cruising to zero.

]]> By: Stephan Schmidt http://niksilver.com/2008/01/19/burn-up-and-burn-down-charts/comment-page-1/#comment-33946 Stephan Schmidt Fri, 29 May 2009 11:47:45 +0000 http://niksilver.com/2008/01/19/burn-up-and-burn-down-charts/#comment-33946 I find burn down charts excellent as a motivation tool (as a side effect). Burn up charts are if anything frustrating. As a ScrumMaster I'd say just keep feature creep out. Cheers Stephan http://twitter.com/codemonkeyism I find burn down charts excellent as a motivation tool (as a side effect). Burn up charts are if anything frustrating.

As a ScrumMaster I’d say just keep feature creep out.

Cheers
Stephan
http://twitter.com/codemonkeyism

]]> By: Quando o ócio não é culpa do time! « Paulo R. A. Sales Blog http://niksilver.com/2008/01/19/burn-up-and-burn-down-charts/comment-page-1/#comment-33936 Quando o ócio não é culpa do time! « Paulo R. A. Sales Blog Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:11:59 +0000 http://niksilver.com/2008/01/19/burn-up-and-burn-down-charts/#comment-33936 [...] Tem um artigo bem direto quanto a utilização e alguns benefícios de utilizar o burn-up chart: Burn-up e Burn-Down. [...] [...] Tem um artigo bem direto quanto a utilização e alguns benefícios de utilizar o burn-up chart: Burn-up e Burn-Down. [...]

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