Epic Burndown vs. Release Burndown

Attribute	Epic Burndown	Release Burndown
Scope	Focuses on tracking progress of individual epics	Focuses on tracking progress of the entire release
Timeframe	Typically shorter timeframes, such as sprints	Spans the duration of the entire release
Granularity	Tracks progress at the epic level	Tracks progress at the release level
Goal	To monitor progress and completion of epics within a sprint	To monitor progress and completion of all work within a release

Introduction

When it comes to Agile project management, burndown charts are a valuable tool for tracking progress and predicting when work will be completed. Two common types of burndown charts used in Agile are Epic Burndown and Release Burndown. While both charts serve similar purposes, they have distinct attributes that make them useful in different contexts.

Definition

Epic Burndown charts track the progress of completing a specific epic, which is a large body of work that can span multiple sprints. The chart shows the remaining work in the epic over time, allowing the team to visualize how much work is left to complete. Release Burndown charts, on the other hand, track the progress of completing all the work required for a specific release. This includes all epics, user stories, and tasks that need to be completed for the release to be considered done.

Scope

One key difference between Epic Burndown and Release Burndown charts is the scope of work they track. Epic Burndown charts focus on a single epic, which allows teams to dive deep into the details of completing a specific body of work. This can be useful for teams that are working on a large, complex feature that requires multiple sprints to complete. Release Burndown charts, on the other hand, provide a high-level view of all the work required for a release. This can help teams track progress towards a larger goal and ensure that all necessary work is completed on time.

Granularity

Another difference between Epic Burndown and Release Burndown charts is the level of granularity they provide. Epic Burndown charts typically show the remaining work in the epic broken down by tasks or user stories. This allows teams to see exactly what work is left to complete and can help identify any bottlenecks or blockers that need to be addressed. Release Burndown charts, on the other hand, often show the overall progress towards completing all work for the release without breaking it down into individual epics or user stories. This can be useful for teams that are focused on meeting a deadline and need to track progress at a higher level.

Use Cases

Epic Burndown charts are commonly used by teams that are working on a specific epic and need to track progress towards completing it. This can be useful for teams that are working on a long-term project with multiple sprints or for teams that are focused on delivering a specific feature. Release Burndown charts, on the other hand, are often used by teams that are working towards a specific release deadline and need to ensure that all work is completed on time. This can be useful for teams that are working on a project with multiple epics or for teams that are part of a larger organization with multiple teams working towards a common goal.

Conclusion

While Epic Burndown and Release Burndown charts both serve similar purposes in Agile project management, they have distinct attributes that make them useful in different contexts. Epic Burndown charts provide a detailed view of progress towards completing a specific epic, while Release Burndown charts offer a high-level view of progress towards completing all work required for a release. Understanding the differences between these two types of burndown charts can help teams choose the right tool for tracking progress and ensuring that work is completed on time.