In Agile development, both lead time and cycle time are essential metrics for measuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the development process, but they focus on different aspects of the workflow.
- Lead Time:
- Lead time refers to the total time it takes for a work item to move from the beginning of the workflow (such as when a customer request is made or a feature is identified) until it is completed and delivered to the customer or end-user.
- It encompasses the entire lifespan of the work item, including planning, development, testing, and delivery.
- Lead time provides insights into the overall responsiveness and efficiency of the development process, as it reflects the end-to-end duration of delivering value to the customer.
- It is often measured in terms of elapsed time, such as hours, days, or weeks.
- Cycle Time:
- Cycle time, on the other hand, focuses specifically on the time it takes for a work item to move through the active part of the workflow, typically from the moment work begins on it (such as when development starts) until it is completed and ready for delivery.
- It excludes any waiting or idle time between workflow stages, such as time spent in queues or awaiting review.
- Cycle time provides insights into the efficiency of the development process itself, as it measures the speed at which work is being completed once it’s actively being worked on.
- Like lead time, cycle time is often measured in terms of elapsed time, such as hours, days, or weeks.
In summary, lead time measures the total duration of delivering value to the customer, including all stages of the workflow, while cycle time focuses specifically on the active time it takes to complete work once it enters the development process. Both metrics are valuable for identifying bottlenecks, improving workflow efficiency, and ultimately delivering value to customers more effectively in Agile development environments.