Work In Progress (WIP)

5 minutes 5 Questions

Work In Progress, abbreviated as WIP, refers to the number of task items that are currently in progress within a sprint. The concept behind this metric is to limit the number of tasks that are in the 'In Progress' stage. Limiting WIP is a common practice in Agile and Scrum methodologies to increase efficiency, improve focus and reduce the waste according to Lean principles. The aim is to accelerate the delivery time by alleviating bottlenecks earlier in the process.

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.
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PSM I - Work In Progress (WIP) Example Questions

Test your knowledge of Work In Progress (WIP)

Question 1

Your Scrum team is having difficulty managing their WIP. How would setting a WIP limit benefit the team?

Correct Answer: Setting a WIP limit helps the team focus on completing tasks, thereby improving flow and making bottlenecks visible.

Setting a WIP limit helps the team focus on completing tasks, thereby improving flow and making bottlenecks visible. By limiting the amount of work in progress, the team encourages finishing existing tasks before starting new ones, which improves efficiency and highlights any issues in the workflow. The other options are incorrect because setting a WIP limit does not guarantee completion of all tasks regardless of challenges, does not encourage multitasking or taking on more work, and is not primarily aimed at enhancing individual productivity or managing individual task queues.

Question 2

Mega Widgets Inc has been experiencing a consistent delay in the delivery of completed tasks. As a Scrum Master, you notice that work was started on several tasks at once, leading to high WIP. What could be a possible solution?

Correct Answer: Implement Work In Progress (WIP) limits to encourage the completion of tasks before starting new ones.

Implementing WIP limits is a core practice in Kanban and can be applied in a Scrum context to help manage the flow of work more effectively, ensuring that the team focuses on completing tasks before starting new ones. Increasing the duration of the daily scrum is not advisable as it should remain time-boxed to 15 minutes, and its purpose is not to discuss issues in depth but rather to update on progress and plan the day's work. Pair programming can improve the quality and speed of task completion but does not directly address the problem of high WIP. Re-prioritizing the backlog during a sprint goes against Scrum principles, which state that the sprint backlog should remain unchanged during the sprint, ensuring stability and focusing the team on the agreed-upon goals.

Question 3

Project Y is considerably delayed, and a high WIP is observed as a result of multitasking by team members. As a Scrum Master, how could you address this issue?

Correct Answer: Promote the concept of 'limiting Work in Progress (WIP)' to encourage focus and reduce multitasking.

Limiting Work in Progress (WIP) helps to focus the team's efforts on completing tasks before taking on new ones, reducing context switching and increasing the team's ability to deliver work efficiently. Adjusting the Definition of Done does not directly address the issue of multitasking or WIP. Increasing the frequency of the Daily Scrum can create more interruptions without necessarily improving focus or reducing WIP. Instituting a mandatory overtime policy may temporarily push tasks to completion but does not solve the underlying issue of multitasking and could negatively impact team morale and sustainability.

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Other Scrum Metrics concepts

Cumulative Flow DiagramCycle TimeEscaped DefectsLead TimeRelease Burn-up ChartSprint Burn-down ChartSprint Goal SuccessTeam VelocityThroughputVelocity
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