Burndown Chart

A publicly displayed chart that depicts the total task hours remaining per day. It shows where the team stands regarding completing the tasks that comprise the backlog items that achieve the goals of the sprint. The X-axis represents days in the sprint, while the Y-axis is effort remaining (usually in ideal engineering hours). To motivate the team, the sprint burndown chart should be displayed prominently. It also acts as an effective information radiator. A manual alternative to this is a physical task board. Ideally, the chart burns down to zero by the end of the sprint. If the team members are reporting their remaining task hours realistically, the line should bump up and down.

Related Articles

Hours-Remaining Burndown Charts: An Agile Anti-Pattern? [Blog]

What’s Next?
