Work In Progress (WIP) - A Comprehensive Guide

Work in Progress (WIP) is a critical Agile and Scrum metric that outlines the amount of work currently being processed. Understanding this metric is important as it allows teams to balance their workload effectively, predict delivery times, and improve efficiency.

Work in Progress typically refers to the number of user stories, tasks, or any work item that is actively being worked on (in progress) but has not yet been completed. It helps to identify bottlenecks and address any issues immediately to ensure a smooth workflow within the team.

How it works:
It works by monitoring the work in the 'In Progress' stage of your Scrum board, thereby providing a real-time insight into the team's capacity and workflow. It's always represented as a real-time number, but can also be visualized with a cumulative flow diagram (CFD) in more sophisticated tools.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Work In Progress (WIP)
1. Understand the definition – Be clear on what work qualifies as WIP and its implications for project management.
2. Application – Understand the importance of limiting WIP and the consequences of having too much or too little WIP.
3. Diagrammatic Representation - Count on your understanding of Cumulative Flow Diagrams.
4. Practical Examples – When given a question or case study in the exam, try to identify if the concept of WIP applies and how it could be beneficial.