Project Management Glossary: Key Terms
Definition of Cycle time
What is cycle time in software development?
Cycle time in software development refers to the time it takes for a task or work item to move from the beginning of a process to its completion. In terms of task status, this could mean from "To do" to "Done," depending on the particular workflow. Cycle time is a key metric in Agile and DevOps practices, measuring the efficiency of a team's workflow. It focuses on the active development phase, including coding, testing, and delivery, rather than overall project timelines.
A shorter cycle time generally indicates faster delivery of features or bug fixes, allowing teams to respond quickly to changes. This metric helps teams understand their productivity and identify bottlenecks in their processes.
How do you calculate cycle time?
To calculate cycle time, track the duration between the moment a work item, such as a user story or bug fix, enters the development process (e.g., coding begins) and the time it is marked as completed (e.g., deployed to production). For example, if a task starts on Monday and is completed on Thursday, the cycle time is three days.
Cycle time can be calculated for individual tasks or averaged across multiple tasks to measure a team's overall efficiency. Tools like Kanban boards or project management software often automate the tracking of cycle times, making the process easier. Standardizing what constitutes the "start" and "end" points is important to ensure consistent measurement.
Why is it important to monitor the cycle time of a project?
Monitoring cycle time is crucial because it provides insights into the efficiency and productivity of a software development team. Shorter cycle times enable teams to deliver value to customers faster, increasing responsiveness to feedback and market changes. Specific benefits of tracking cycle time include:
- Identifying and addressing bottlenecks
- Setting realistic delivery timelines
- Improving workflow predictability
- Supporting continuous improvement efforts
- Fostering a culture of efficiency and collaboration
How does Enji help reduce software development cycle time?
Enji collects data from worklogs and individual and team code metrics to produce an accurate cycle time. Managers can see cycle time and the details behind the number. This data serves as a signal that managers can use to direct their attention to specific team members or tasks to remove roadblocks and optimize processes that improve the cycle time metric. Enji's other features, such as asynchronous stand-ups and the Copilot and Summarizer, also help reduce cycle time by removing unnecessary communication that often takes software developers away from their tasks.
Key Takeaways
- Cycle time refers to the time it takes for a task or work item to move from the beginning of a process to its completion.
- Monitoring cycle time provides insights into the efficiency and productivity of a software development team.
- The benefits of analyzing cycle time include Identifying bottlenecks, setting timelines, Improving workflows, supporting continuous improvement, and fostering a culture of efficiency and collaboration.
- Enji provides managers with signals about the work of developers that pinpoint specific issues and reduce the need for constant communication.
Last updated in November 2024