Guide: Understanding Velocity Simulation in Scrum
What is Velocity Simulation?
Velocity Simulation is a measure used in agile project management, particularly in Scrum, to predict the amount of work a team can achieve in a sprint. It is calculated by adding up the estimates of the work completed in the last several sprints and dividing it by the number of sprints, giving the average velocity.
Importance of Velocity Simulation:
Velocity Simulation is pivotal because it serves as a forecasting tool for future sprints, improving predictability and planning. Additionally, it allows the team to inspect and adapt its process over time by analyzing the variation in velocity.
How Velocity Simulation Works:
It tracks the completed user story points or any other chosen unit across sprints and calculates the average. This number is then used to predict the work that can be done in future sprints, assisting in sprint planning.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Velocity Simulation:
- Recall that it measures predictability, not team performance or productivity.
- It is calculated by averaging completed work over past sprints.
- Understand that a constant velocity allows for reliable predictions for upcoming sprints.
- Remember: the main idea is that velocity helps in inspection and adaptation
- Look for questions that ask about how to improve predictability or deal with volatility in estimates.
- Note: Velocity should never be used to compare teams!