Understanding Burndown Charts in Scrum

Burndown charts are a popular tool in Scrum used to visualize the progress of work during a Sprint. They provide a clear view of how much work remains and help teams track their progress toward completing the Sprint Goal.

Exam Question

If burndown charts are used to visualize progress, what do they track?
(choose the best answer)
A. Accumulated business value delivered to the customer.
B. Individual worker productivity.
C. Accumulated cost.
D. Work remaining across time.

Correct Answer

D. Work remaining across time.

Explanation

Correct Answer

D. Work remaining across time:
Burndown charts track the amount of work remaining over time. In the context of Scrum, this usually means tracking the remaining tasks or story points against the time left in the Sprint. The chart typically shows a downward slope, with the goal being to reach zero work remaining by the end of the Sprint. This visual tool helps the Scrum Team assess their progress and adjust as needed to meet the Sprint Goal.

Why the Other Options Are Less Appropriate

A. Accumulated business value delivered to the customer:
While delivering business value is a core objective of Scrum, a burndown chart specifically tracks work remaining rather than value delivered. Value delivery might be tracked through other means, such as release burndown charts or business value metrics, but not the standard Sprint burndown chart.

B. Individual worker productivity:
Scrum focuses on team productivity rather than individual worker productivity. Burndown charts track the team’s collective progress toward completing the work, not the productivity of individual team members.

C. Accumulated cost:
Burndown charts are not used to track costs. Cost tracking is typically handled through other financial or project management tools, not through burndown charts, which are focused on tracking the progress of work.

Relevance to the PSD Exam

Understanding the purpose and function of burndown charts is important for the PSD exam. It ensures that you can effectively use this tool to monitor and communicate progress within a Scrum framework.

Key Takeaways

• Burndown charts track the amount of work remaining over time, helping teams monitor progress toward completing the Sprint Goal.
• The focus is on team progress, not individual productivity, cost, or business value.
• Burndown charts are essential for visualizing the team’s trajectory and making necessary adjustments to meet the Sprint Goal.

Conclusion

Burndown charts are a valuable tool in Scrum for tracking the work remaining across time, helping teams visualize their progress and make informed decisions to stay on track. For more information on preparing for the PSD exam, visit our Professional Scrum Developer PSD™ Exam Prep.