Velocity Lies: What Your Agile Metrics Aren't Telling You
John McIntyre
Time
15.00 - 15.30
Details
Most Agile delivery teams measure velocity. Some track burndown. Neither of these tells you where your work is getting stuck, how long it's actually sitting in each stage, or whether your process is getting better or worse over time.
This session takes a practical look at flow metrics: specifically what a Cumulative Flow Diagram can show you that velocity never will. We'll build one up layer by layer at the table, starting from a blank chart, and explore what each band reveals: where work accumulates, where your real bottlenecks are hiding, and how to read the shape of your delivery rather than just counting what comes out the end.
You'll need nothing except a willingness to pick up a coloured pen. Bring your honest opinions about how well your current metrics are serving you and helping you improve.
Key Features
Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of what a CFD shows, how to read it quickly, and what questions to start asking about their current delivery processes when they get back to the office.
About John
John McIntyre has spent the last decade working with Agile and hybrid delivery teams across sectors including retail, digital, and financial services. He's a firm believer that better metrics don't just improve reporting: they change the conversations teams have, and the decisions they make. Check out HotPMO.