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Lead Time & Cycle Time

Lead Time and Cycle Time are key metrics that measure the time taken for work items to progress through the workflow.

Lead Time

  • The total time from when a request is made (e.g., user story created) until it is completed
  • Measures overall responsiveness of the team

Cycle Time

  • The time from when work actually starts on an item until it is completed
  • Measures efficiency during active work

Why They Matter

  • Help teams identify delays and bottlenecks
  • Support forecasting and process improvement
  • Provide insight into customer wait times and delivery speed

How to Measure

  • Track timestamps for work item states in the workflow
  • Calculate averages over a period (e.g., Sprint or month)