technical
How to create Burn up Chart in Excel?
Here’s what you need to do in Excel to make a burn-up chart:
- Prepare data: Sort the information into two columns: one for the dates and one for the total amount of work done.
- To add a chart, click the “Line Chart” button on the “Insert” tab. Choose the “Stacked Line” type of chart.
- Add data: Click on the “Design” tab and then on the chart. Click “Select Data” and add the date column as the X-axis and the total work column as the Y-axis.
- Format chart: Change the colors, labels, gridlines, etc. to make the chart look the way you want.
- Right-click on the data series and choose “Add Trendline” to add a trendline. Pick “Linear” as the type.
- Format the trendline by changing its color, width, etc. to make it look the way you want.
- Add target line: Add another data series for the target amount of work and make it a horizontal line to show the target.
- Finalize chart: Save the chart and call it whatever you want.
- Note: This is just a basic guide and your specific chart may require different steps or customization.
What Is a Burndown Chart?
A burndown chart is a visual representation of work remaining in a project over time. It is used in Agile project management to track progress and estimate when the work will be completed. The chart plots the remaining work on the vertical axis and the time on the horizontal axis. The burndown chart is updated regularly, usually at the end of each day or each sprint, to show how much work has been completed and how much is left. The goal is to see a downward trend over time, indicating that the team is making progress towards completing the project. A flat or upward trend in the chart can indicate a problem that needs to be addressed.
How to prepare the data in Excel?
Here’s how to prepare the data in Excel for a burndown chart:
- Create a table: Start by creating a table with two columns. One column for the date and another for the remaining work.
- Enter starting values: In the first row, write down the start date and the total amount of work for the project.
- Track your progress by writing the date and the new amount of work left in each new row. This should be done often, usually at the end of each day or each sprint.
- Work done each day or during a sprint: To figure out how much work was done in each period, subtract the amount of work left over from the amount of work done in the previous period.
- Steps 3 and 4 should be repeated until the project is done: Keep adding the most recent information to the table until the project is done and all the work is done.
- Finalize the data: Clean up the table by getting rid of any rows or columns that aren’t being used and, if necessary, adding labels to the columns.
- Note: For the burndown chart to work, you need to have correct and up-to-date information. Make sure that the table is always and regularly updated.
How to Use a Burn-Up Chart?
- A burn-up chart is a way to see how a project is coming along over time. It shows how much work has been done and how much more needs to be done. How to read a burn-up chart:
- Find the X-axis. Usually, the X-axis shows time in days, weeks, or sprints.
- Find the Y-axis. The Y-axis shows how much work needs to be done. This is usually measured in units of effort, hours, or story points.
- Find the completed work line. This line shows the total amount of work that has been done over time. It starts with the whole amount of work and gets smaller as the project goes on.
- Find the target line. The amount of work that was planned for the project is shown on the target line. The total amount of work for the project is usually shown by a horizontal line.
- Compare the line of completed work to the line of the goal: A project that is going well will have a line of completed work that is close to the target line and goes down over time. This shows that the team is making progress and getting the work done as planned.
- Find any differences. Differences between the line of completed work and the line of the goal can indicate problems with the project, such as scope creep, delays, or poor resource management.
- Look at the overall trend. The overall trend of the burn-up chart can tell you a lot about how the project is going and whether it is on track to be finished on time and on budget.
- Note: The details of a burn-up chart can change based on the project and the data being shown, but the basic ideas described above should work for most burn-up charts.
Map Out the Scope:
To map out the scope of a project, you need to define the boundaries of the work that needs to be done. This includes identifying the goals and objectives of the project, defining what tasks and deliverables are required, and establishing the constraints and limitations of the project. Here are the steps to map out the scope of a project:
- Define the project goals: Clearly state the purpose of the project and what outcomes you hope to achieve.
- Identify the stakeholders: Determine who is involved in the project and what their expectations are. This includes the project team, stakeholders, customers, and any other parties that will be affected by the project.
- Define the deliverables: Identify the specific products, services, or results that need to be delivered to complete the project. This includes tangible items like reports, software, and prototypes, as well as intangible results like improved processes or increased customer satisfaction.
- Outline the tasks: Break down the project into smaller, manageable tasks and identify the dependencies between them.
- Define the constraints: Identify any constraints that may impact the project, such as budget, timeline, and resources.
- Establish the boundaries: Clearly define what is included in the project and what is not. This helps to prevent scope creep, where additional tasks or requirements are added to the project without proper planning.
- Review and approve the scope: Review the scope with the stakeholders and get their approval to ensure everyone is aligned and agrees on the scope of the project.
By mapping out the scope of the project, you can ensure that everyone is on the same page and that the project stays focused on its goals and objectives. This will help increase the chances of a successful project outcome.
Propose Duration Estimates:
Proposing duration estimates for a project involves estimating how long it will take to complete each task and the overall project. Here are the steps to propose duration estimates:
- Break down the project into tasks: Identify the individual tasks that need to be completed to achieve the project goals.
- Gather historical data: If possible, gather data from previous similar projects to help estimate the time required to complete each task.
- Involve the team: Involve the team members who will be responsible for completing each task in the estimation process. They will have valuable insight into how long each task will take and any potential challenges.
- Use estimation techniques: Consider using techniques such as bottom-up estimating, top-down estimating, and expert judgment to help estimate the time required for each task.
- Account for contingencies: Add contingency time to the estimates to account for unexpected events or delays. This can help to reduce the risk of missing deadlines.
- Verify the estimates: Verify the estimates with the team and stakeholders to ensure they are realistic and achievable.
- Update the project plan: Update the project plan with the estimated duration for each task and the overall project.
By proposing accurate duration estimates, you can help ensure that the project stays on track and that deadlines are met. Keep in mind that estimates are not exact and should be regularly reviewed and updated as the project progresses.
Continue Reading