What is a Burndown Chart, and how can it be used to track progress?

Definition:

A Burndown Chart is a visual tool that shows the remaining work in a Sprint or project

over time.

Purpose:

• Helps teams monitor progress toward completing the Sprint backlog.
• Enables early identification of scope creep or falling behind.

Follow On:

How to use:

• X-axis: Days in Sprint
• Y-axis: Remaining effort (usually in story points or hours)
• Ideal line vs. actual line

Example:

Midway through a Sprint, a team sees the burndown flatlining (no work is getting “done”).

This prompts a conversation — they discover a blocker in API access and address it before

the Sprint is derailed.

Scrum Implementation & Best

Practices: