How can you avoid common burndown chart mistakes in Scrum?

1 Mistake 1: Not updating the chart daily

One of the key principles of Scrum is transparency, which means that the team and the stakeholders should have a clear and shared understanding of the current state of the project. A burndown chart can provide that transparency, but only if it is updated regularly and reflects the latest changes in the sprint backlog. If the team does not update the chart daily, the chart will become outdated and unreliable, and it will not show the true progress or impediments of the team. To avoid this mistake, the team should update the chart every day, preferably after the daily Scrum meeting, and make sure that the remaining work is accurately estimated and tracked.

2 Mistake 2: Not adjusting the chart for scope changes

Another principle of Scrum is flexibility, which means that the team and the stakeholders should be able to respond to changing requirements and priorities. A burndown chart can help the team to monitor and manage the scope of the sprint, but only if it is adjusted for any scope changes that occur during the sprint. If the team does not adjust the chart for scope changes, such as adding, removing, or splitting user stories, the chart will not reflect the actual work that the team has committed to deliver. To avoid this mistake, the team should update the chart whenever there is a scope change, and make sure that the new work is properly estimated and agreed upon by the team and the product owner.

3 Mistake 3: Not aligning the chart with the definition of done

A third principle of Scrum is quality, which means that the team and the stakeholders should have a clear and shared definition of what constitutes a done user story. A burndown chart can help the team to measure and improve their quality, but only if it is aligned with the definition of done. If the team does not align the chart with the definition of done, such as marking a user story as done when it is not fully tested or accepted by the product owner, the chart will not show the true value that the team has delivered. To avoid this mistake, the team should update the chart only when a user story meets the definition of done, and make sure that the definition of done is consistent and understood by everyone.

4 Mistake 4: Not using the chart for learning and improvement

A fourth principle of Scrum is inspection and adaptation, which means that the team and the stakeholders should regularly review and improve their processes and practices. A burndown chart can help the team to learn and improve, but only if it is used for analysis and feedback. If the team does not use the chart for learning and improvement, such as identifying patterns, trends, or issues in their performance, the chart will not help the team to achieve their goals and deliver value. To avoid this mistake, the team should use the chart as a basis for discussion and reflection, both during the sprint and at the end of the sprint, and make sure that they apply the lessons learned to their future sprints.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?