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Milav Dabgar
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Milav Dabgar
Experienced lecturer in the electrical and electronic manufacturing industry. Skilled in Embedded Systems, Image Processing, Data Science, MATLAB, Python, STM32. Strong education professional with a Master’s degree in Communication Systems Engineering from L.D. College of Engineering - Ahmedabad.
Lecture 31: Project Scheduling - Sprint Burn Down Chart

Lecture 31: Project Scheduling - Sprint Burn Down Chart

Unit 4: Software Project Management (4353202)

Lecture Agenda

  • Recap of Gantt Charts
  • What is a Sprint Burn Down Chart?
  • Components of a Sprint Burn Down Chart
  • Example: Sprint Burn Down Chart for an E-commerce Mobile App
  • Interpreting the Chart
  • Advantages of Sprint Burn Down Charts
  • Disadvantages of Sprint Burn Down Charts
  • Key Takeaways

Recap of Gantt Charts

Gantt Charts are visual tools for project scheduling, showing tasks, durations, and dependencies on a timeline. They are good for linear projects but can become complex for large or agile projects.

What is a Sprint Burn Down Chart?

A Sprint Burn Down Chart is a graphical representation of the work remaining versus time in a sprint. It is a key tool used in Agile methodologies, particularly Scrum, to track the progress of a sprint.

The chart shows the total effort (e.g., in story points or hours) that needs to be completed in a sprint and how much of that work has been "burned down" or completed over time.

Components of a Sprint Burn Down Chart

  • X-axis: Represents time (days of the sprint).
  • Y-axis: Represents the amount of work remaining (e.g., story points, hours).
  • Ideal Burn Down Line: A straight line from the total work at the start to zero work at the end, representing the planned rate of work completion.
  • Actual Burn Down Line: A line showing the actual remaining work at the end of each day.

Example: Sprint Burn Down Chart for an E-commerce Mobile App

Sprint Goal: Implement User Authentication and Product Catalog

Sprint Duration: 10 Days

Total Story Points: 40

graph TD A[Story Points] --> B(40) B --> C(35) C --> D(30) D --> E(25) E --> F(20) F --> G(15) G --> H(10) H --> I(5) I --> J(0) B -- Ideal --> J B -- Actual --> K(38) K --> L(32) L --> M(28) M --> N(25) N --> O(20) O --> P(15) P --> Q(10) Q --> R(5) R --> J style B fill:#fff,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style J fill:#fff,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px style K fill:#f00,stroke:#f00,stroke-width:2px style L fill:#f00,stroke:#f00,stroke-width:2px style M fill:#f00,stroke:#f00,stroke-width:2px style N fill:#f00,stroke:#f00,stroke-width:2px style O fill:#f00,stroke:#f00,stroke-width:2px style P fill:#f00,stroke:#f00,stroke-width:2px style Q fill:#f00,stroke:#f00,stroke-width:2px style R fill:#f00,stroke:#f00,stroke-width:2px

Interpreting the Chart

  • Actual Line Below Ideal: The team is ahead of schedule.
  • Actual Line Above Ideal: The team is behind schedule.
  • Flat Line: No work was completed on that day, or new work was added.
  • Steep Drop: A large amount of work was completed quickly.

The chart provides a quick visual indicator of sprint progress and helps the team identify potential issues early.

Advantages of Sprint Burn Down Charts

  • Transparency: Provides a clear and immediate visual of sprint progress for the team and stakeholders.
  • Early Problem Detection: Helps identify if the team is falling behind or if new work is being added.
  • Motivation: Can motivate the team by showing daily progress.
  • Facilitates Daily Scrums: Provides a focal point for discussion during daily stand-up meetings.
  • Adaptability: Supports the agile principle of adapting to change.

Disadvantages of Sprint Burn Down Charts

  • Can Be Misleading: Only shows remaining work, not necessarily the quality or complexity.
  • Doesn't Show Scope Changes: A flat line could mean no work done or new work added, which isn't immediately clear.
  • Focus on Quantity: Can sometimes lead to a focus on burning down points rather than delivering value.
  • Requires Accurate Updates: Relies on the team accurately updating remaining work daily.

Key Takeaways

  • A **Sprint Burn Down Chart** tracks **work remaining** in a sprint against time.
  • It is a core tool in **Agile/Scrum** for visualizing progress.
  • Helps in **early problem detection** and **team motivation**.
  • Requires **accurate daily updates** and careful interpretation.

Next Lecture

Topic: Risk Management - Risk Identification

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