Burn Up Chart in Agile Product Management

Introduction to Burn Up Charts in Agile

If you work in Agile product management, you know how important it is to track progress clearly. A burn up chart is a simple but powerful tool that shows how much work has been completed and how much remains. It helps teams and stakeholders see progress at a glance.

Unlike other charts, burn up charts also show changes in project scope. This makes them very useful for managing expectations and adapting plans. In this article, you will learn what a burn up chart is, how it works, and how to use it effectively in your Agile projects.

What Is a Burn Up Chart?

A burn up chart is a visual graph used in Agile to track work progress over time. It has two main lines: one for total work and one for completed work. The vertical axis shows the amount of work, often in story points or tasks, while the horizontal axis shows time, like sprints or days.

This chart helps teams see how much work is done and how much is left. It also shows if the project scope changes, which is common in Agile projects. This makes burn up charts more flexible than burn down charts.

• Total Work Line: Shows the total amount of work planned, which can increase if new tasks are added.
• Completed Work Line: Shows how much work the team has finished so far.

Benefits of Using Burn Up Charts

Burn up charts offer many advantages for Agile teams and product managers. They provide clear, real-time insights into project progress and scope changes. Here are some key benefits:

• Transparency: Everyone sees progress and scope changes clearly.
• Motivation: Teams can see their achievements as the completed work line rises.
• Scope Management: Easily track when new work is added or removed.
• Better Forecasting: Helps predict when the project will finish based on current progress.
• Stakeholder Communication: Provides a simple visual to update clients and managers.

For example, a product manager using a tool like Jira or Azure DevOps can generate burn up charts automatically. This helps keep everyone on the same page without extra effort.

How to Create and Read a Burn Up Chart

Creating a burn up chart is straightforward. You can use Excel, Google Sheets, or Agile tools like Jira, Azure DevOps, or no-code platforms such as Bubble with plugins. Here’s how to do it:

• Step 1: Define the total work, usually in story points or tasks.
• Step 2: Track completed work after each sprint or day.
• Step 3: Plot total work and completed work on the chart over time.

Reading the chart is simple. The gap between the two lines shows remaining work. If the total work line moves up, it means scope has increased. If it stays flat, scope is stable.

For example, if you see the completed work line rising steadily but the total work line jumps up, it means new tasks were added. This helps you adjust plans or communicate changes to stakeholders.

Practical Use Cases of Burn Up Charts

Burn up charts are versatile and fit many Agile scenarios. Here are some common use cases:

• Tracking Sprint Progress: See how much work is done within a sprint and if the team is on track.
• Managing Scope Changes: Visualize when new features or tasks are added during development.
• Release Planning: Forecast when a product or feature will be ready based on current progress.
• Stakeholder Reporting: Share clear progress updates with clients or executives.
• Team Motivation: Celebrate milestones as the completed work line climbs.

For instance, a startup using Glide to build a mobile app can use burn up charts to track feature completion and adjust priorities quickly as user feedback comes in.

Tools and Software for Burn Up Charts

Many tools help you create and maintain burn up charts easily. Here are some popular options:

• Jira: Built-in reports and dashboards include burn up charts.
• Azure DevOps: Offers customizable burn up charts for Agile projects.
• Excel/Google Sheets: Flexible for custom charts with manual data entry.
• Bubble: No-code platform with plugins to build custom burn up charts.
• Make (Integromat) and Zapier: Automate data collection and update charts automatically.

Choosing the right tool depends on your team size, budget, and workflow. No-code tools make it easy for non-developers to create interactive charts without coding.

Conclusion

Burn up charts are a valuable tool in Agile product management. They provide clear visibility into progress and scope changes, helping teams stay aligned and adapt quickly. Using them can improve communication, forecasting, and motivation.

Whether you use Jira, no-code platforms like Bubble, or simple spreadsheets, burn up charts help you manage your Agile projects more effectively. Start using them today to see your team’s progress in a clear, visual way.