Using Sprint Velocity to Forecast Project Completion
Juggling a project can be quite a feat, and anticipating the ultimate finish date can prove to be a daunting task. Luckily, with the help of agile methodologies, project managers can tap into Sprint Velocity as a valuable resource for projecting the project’s completion date. Click here to learn more about the importance of sprint velocity.
What is sprint velocity?
Sprint Velocity serves as a key metric utilized in agile development that gauges the amount of work accomplished by a team throughout a Sprint. Typically, a Sprint consists of a fixed period, ranging from one to four weeks, for development work. The Sprint Velocity calculation involves adding the number of story points accomplished during a Sprint and dividing it by the total number of Sprints.
As a project progresses, the team’s performance becomes clearer, and project managers can take advantage of the team’s average Sprint Velocity to make future predictions. For example, if the team’s past five Sprints have resulted in an average Sprint Velocity of 20 story points, the team will likely maintain this momentum and complete 20 story points per Sprint moving forward.
To forecast the project completion date using Sprint Velocity, project managers can follow these steps:
Estimate the total number of story points required to complete the project
For project managers seeking an estimation of the overall number of story points needed to complete a project, collaborating with the development team proves vital. Together, they can break the project down into smaller tasks and estimate the required story points for each task.
Calculate the number of Sprints required to complete the project
Calculating the number of Sprints necessary to finish a project requires a bit of mathematical finesse from project managers. By dividing the total number of story points necessary to complete the project by the team’s average Sprint Velocity, they can obtain this vital information. For instance, if a project requires 200 story points to complete and the team’s average Sprint Velocity is 20 story points, then the project should take about 10 Sprints to reach the finish line.
Estimate the project completion date
Project completion dates can be approximated using a simple multiplication technique. By multiplying the number of Sprints required to complete the project by the length of each Sprint, project managers can make an informed estimation. For instance, if the Sprint length is two weeks, then the estimated completion date will be roughly 20 weeks from the project’s start.
Final Thoughts:
Using Sprint Velocity to forecast project completion provides project managers with a valuable tool for managing projects. By estimating the total number of story points required to complete the project and using the team’s average Sprint Velocity, project managers can accurately predict the project completion date.
