How Do We Do Better Capacity Planning & Forecasting?
Oct 8, 2024
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Delve into the complexities of capacity planning for Agile teams. Discover how to effectively align priorities and manage resources without getting lost in the numbers. Learn strategies that enhance predictability, focusing on story points and team availability. The discussion balances new projects and tech debt while respecting work-in-progress limits. Get ready to streamline your planning process and avoid the last-minute scramble!
Effective capacity planning hinges on prioritizing simplicity and collaboration among stakeholders to manage competing tasks efficiently.
Understanding the distinction between velocity and capacity helps teams optimize output by focusing on availability rather than individual performance.
Deep dives
Strategic Approach to Capacity Planning
Effective capacity planning requires a focus on simplicity rather than complexity. Attempting to create intricate formulas or algorithms can complicate the process when teams have competing priorities and varying availabilities. Instead, aligning on essential work and collaborating with key stakeholders ensures that teams can efficiently tackle tasks. When the team understands what needs to be addressed, they can 'swarm' to complete the work, making planning more effective and adaptable.
Understanding Velocity versus Capacity
There is a crucial distinction between velocity and capacity within a team setting. Velocity is a team-based metric that measures the volume of work that can be accomplished during a sprint, while capacity refers to the individual availability and allocation of team members. By focusing on smaller job sizes rather than individual performance, teams can maintain predictability in their output. Ultimately, addressing capacity concerns as they arise, rather than preemptively stressing over every detail, leads to a healthier and more productive team dynamic.
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Navigating the Challenges of Capacity Planning in Agile Teams
How Do We Do Better Capacity Planning & Forecasting?
Quarterly planning always seems to creep up on us. It’s a busy time, and teams are usually scrambling to get their projects scoped. I used to feel the same pressure — like no matter how much effort I put into planning, something always slipped through the cracks. One challenge for engineering managers is planning capacity while balancing competing priorities like new projects, tech debt, and time off.