Cumulative Flow Diagram Tutorial
What is a Cumulative Flow Diagram?
A Cumulative Flow Diagram (CFD) is a visual representation of the flow of work in an Agile project. It shows the amount of work in different stages of a process over time. The CFD helps teams understand their workflow, identify bottlenecks, and improve their processes.
Why Use a Cumulative Flow Diagram?
The CFD serves several purposes in Agile project management:
- Visualizes progress over time.
- Identifies bottlenecks in the workflow.
- Helps in forecasting delivery dates.
- Assists in monitoring work in progress (WIP).
- Encourages team communication and collaboration.
Components of a Cumulative Flow Diagram
A CFD typically consists of the following components:
- X-Axis: Represents time (days, weeks, or sprints).
- Y-Axis: Represents the number of work items (stories, tasks, or issues).
- Colored Bands: Each color represents a different stage in the workflow (e.g., To Do, In Progress, Done).
How to Create a Cumulative Flow Diagram
To create a CFD, follow these steps:
- Define the workflow stages (e.g., To Do, In Progress, Done).
- Collect data on the number of work items in each stage over time.
- Plot the data on a graph with time on the X-axis and the number of work items on the Y-axis.
- Use different colors for each stage to create a visual flow.
Example of a Cumulative Flow Diagram
Here is a simple example of how a CFD might look based on a team's work over a two-week sprint:
Data Points:
- Day 1: To Do - 5, In Progress - 0, Done - 0
- Day 2: To Do - 4, In Progress - 1, Done - 0
- Day 3: To Do - 3, In Progress - 2, Done - 0
- Day 4: To Do - 3, In Progress - 2, Done - 1
- Day 5: To Do - 2, In Progress - 3, Done - 1
- Day 6: To Do - 1, In Progress - 3, Done - 2
- Day 7: To Do - 0, In Progress - 3, Done - 3
- Day 8: To Do - 0, In Progress - 2, Done - 4
- Day 9: To Do - 0, In Progress - 1, Done - 5
- Day 10: To Do - 0, In Progress - 0, Done - 6
Based on these data points, you can create a graph where each day is plotted, showing the number of items in each stage. The area under each color band will show the cumulative flow of work items through the process.
Interpreting a Cumulative Flow Diagram
When analyzing a CFD, look for the following:
- Steady growth: A smooth, increasing line indicates a healthy flow of work.
- Bottlenecks: If a color band becomes wider, it indicates a backlog in that stage.
- Completion rates: A flat line in the "Done" area may suggest that work is not being completed.
Conclusion
A Cumulative Flow Diagram is a powerful tool for Agile teams to visualize their workflow, identify issues, and improve their processes. By regularly updating and reviewing the CFD, teams can enhance their efficiency and ensure a smooth delivery of work items.