What is a burnup chart in Scrum?

A burnup chart tracks progress in Scrum

A burnup chart visually represents the amount of work completed over time against the total amount of work in a project. It shows two lines: one for the total scope of work and another for the work completed, making it easy to see how much progress is being made towards the project goal.

Key features of burnup charts

• Two lines: one for total work and one for completed work.
• Helps identify scope changes and their impact on progress.
• Useful for forecasting project completion dates based on current velocity.

After several sprints, teams can analyze trends in their burnup charts to identify patterns in their productivity. This analysis can help in planning future sprints more effectively.

Benefits of using a burnup chart

• Provides a clear visual representation of progress.
• Helps stakeholders understand project status at a glance.
• Encourages accountability among team members.

In our experience, many teams find burnup charts more informative than burndown charts, especially when scope changes occur. The ability to see both completed work and total scope can clarify how changes affect project timelines.

For teams looking to improve their Scrum practices, understanding tools like the burnup chart is essential. If you're interested in enhancing your Scrum skills, consider our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) courses, starting at $399. We’ve trained over 55,000 practitioners since 2001, and our classes are designed to provide practical insights.

To learn more about Agile practices, check out our post on the four pillars of agile transformation or explore how burn charts compare to burndown charts in our article on burndown charts.