Different metrics are used to track the progress of software development projects. For example, dora metrics can help you ensure the success of software development projects. The main purpose of metrics is to provide a snapshot of the current status and project health.
Cycle time is such a metric. And it is one of the most important metrics in software development projects. For example, if software development cycles are large, it might affect your testing process and schedule.
But, how do you keep track of cycle time? In this article, we are going to introduce you to simple methods that could help you reduce the cycle time of software development projects.
- Well-defined task requirements
Of course, you will start with well-defined task requirements. The requirements specification should be something that helps in getting rapid feedback and requirement being able to capture all the requirements. It is better that users are provided with such a document instead of the development team itself. They can check the completeness of documentation, which is a great way to save time and avoid ambiguity.
- Team-calibrated story points
On the other hand, developers will start with a set of goals, which need to be accomplished by the end of the project. For example, a development team can define story points for every requirement. Then, they should assign story points for every user story as well as estimate each one with a balance between business value and programming effort.
The goal is to separate business value from programming effort by building a “fitness function.” This is an important task for developers because it will help them in estimating the time required for software development projects.
- Break projects into small and meaningful tasks
Small meaningful tasks will help in accomplishing the goal. For example, developers can break down software development projects into small and meaningful tasks by using to-do lists. They can also break down the tasks into small and meaningful user stories. If a user story is too big, then the task will become more difficult to accomplish. On the other hand, if a task is too small, then it will be meaningless.
- Agile team size
The number of developers in a team is another important factor. In general, you should select a team size that can deliver the most value over time. For example, a team of 6 to 10 people is considered small and agile.
