What is throughput?
It is the number of work items completed within a specific timeframe.
Definition
In the Kanban method, 'throughput' is used to describe the total number of tasks or work items that a team manages to complete during a specified period. This indicator is a measure of the team's productivity and efficiency and is used to assess and improve performance over time.
Metric
Throughput is a key performance indicator that helps teams understand their delivery capacity and efficiency.
Measurement
Throughput is measured by counting the number of tasks or user stories that have been completed and delivered over a period, often per iteration or per week.
Tracking
Teams can use throughput data to better track improvements in their delivery process and identify potential bottlenecks.
Type
Throughput is a quantitative measure of how much work is being completed over time within a Kanban system.
Analogy
It can be compared to the output of a factory, indicating the rate at which work is being processed and delivered.
Want to learn more?
If you'd like to go deeper into Throughput —or bring this kind of training to your team— let's talk. I help teams understand and apply these concepts. I'd love to hear from you!
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