Burndown and burnup charts are crucial Scrum tools for tracking progress during a sprint or project. Although they both visualize accomplished vs remaining work, they do it in various ways, giving project teams unique insights.
- Burndown Chart - This chart depicts the quantity of work remaining over time. The x-axis shows time (generally sprint days), while the y-axis represents leftover work. The purpose of a burndown chart is to demonstrate how much work was "burned" away during the sprint. A typical burndown chart begins with a predetermined amount of work and decreases as tasks are accomplished. If the chart is trending over the optimal line, it means that the team is behind schedule.
- Burnup Chart - Unlike the burndown chart, the burnup chart measures the quantity of work done over time. The x-axis depicts time again, but the y-axis shows the overall amount of work done. This chart can also show the whole scope of the project (the total amount of work to be done), which is especially relevant for projects whose scope evolves over time. Burnup charts provide a more complete picture by displaying both progress and scope changes.
- Which Chart to Use - A burndown chart is useful for focusing on the rate at which work is performed and determining whether you are on track to complete the sprint on time. On the other side, the burnup chart is more suited for projects with shifting scope because it illustrates both progress and changes in work over time.
Both charts are useful in Scrum for tracking team progress, but they focus on distinct areas of project management. The decision between the two is based on the level of detail and type of information you wish to emphasize.
