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How delivery leaders create predictability without false certainty

55 Degrees — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Predictability is one of the most requested outcomes in delivery leadership. Stakeholders want confidence in timelines. Teams want clarity on priorities. Delivery leaders are expected to provide answers that feel reliable, even when the environment is constantly changing.

This often leads to a subtle but important problem. Predictability becomes confused with certainty.

Exact dates are requested early. Plans are expected to hold. Commitments are framed as promises. When reality changes, trust takes a hit, even if the change was reasonable and unavoidable.

For delivery leads, this creates a difficult balance. They want to be transparent about uncertainty, but they also want to provide confidence. Estimation is often used to bridge this gap, but it frequently creates more tension than clarity.

Flow-based thinking offers a different approach to predictability.

Instead of trying to eliminate uncertainty, it helps delivery leaders work with it. Rather than presenting a single outcome, it focuses on understanding likelihood, risk, and variation based on how work has behaved before.

This shift changes how forecasting works.

When delivery leads base forecasts on evidence from past deliveries, they are no longer guessing. They are reasoning. They can explain what is likely to happen, what is possible, and what carries a higher risk. This creates a more honest and resilient form of predictability. Importantly, this does not mean avoiding commitment. It means framing commitment with context.

When delivery leaders talk about ranges instead of exact dates, they invite better decisions. Stakeholders can weigh trade-offs. Teams can focus on finishing work rather than defending plans. Conversations become calmer and more constructive. This approach also supports earlier risk management.

Flow-based signals show when work starts to slow down, when items age, and when variability increases. These signals appear long before deadlines are missed. Delivery leaders can act earlier, adjust priorities, or renegotiate scope while options still exist.

Predictability then becomes something that is continuously managed, not something that is declared once during planning. Another important change is how progress is communicated.

Instead of focusing on how much work has been started, flow-based thinking emphasizes how much work is finishing. This aligns progress with outcomes and helps delivery leaders explain why focus matters more than activity.

For stakeholders, this builds trust over time. Even when outcomes change, surprises are reduced because uncertainty was visible earlier. Confidence comes not from rigid plans, but from transparency and shared understanding.

This way of working is especially valuable in complex environments with multiple teams or initiatives. In these contexts, detailed plans often give a false sense of control. Flow-based forecasting provides a more realistic view of what the system can handle and how changes affect delivery.

What delivery leads gain from this approach is not certainty, but credibility.

They can speak clearly about risk. They can explain why decisions are made. They can lead delivery conversations grounded in reality rather than optimism.

If this resonates with your experience, you may want to explore this way of thinking further.

We have created The Delivery Leader’s Guide to Flow-Based Metrics, a practical introduction to leading delivery with flow, not points.

The guide brings together the ideas behind evidence-based forecasting, flow, and delivery leadership in a clear and accessible way.

You can download the guide to learn how to create predictability without relying on false certainty, and how to lead delivery with more confidence and clarity.

Download The Delivery Leader’s Guide to Flow-Based Metrics.

Get the free guide

What delivery looks like beyond story points

55 Degrees — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Delivery leadership today is about more than planning work and tracking progress. It is about creating confidence in environments where uncertainty is the norm.

Delivery Leads are expected to answer difficult questions every day: When will this be done? Are we on track? What’s the risk?

On the surface, these questions sound simple. In reality, they rarely are. Priorities shift. Dependencies appear late. Teams juggle multiple initiatives at once. What looked straightforward on a planning board quickly becomes complex in practice.

To bring structure to that complexity, many organisations rely on estimation. Story points are used with the best of intentions. They help teams align and give stakeholders something tangible to discuss.

But for many Delivery Leads, estimation doesn’t deliver the clarity it promises.

Even with careful planning, delivery often feels fragile. Timelines move. Confidence erodes. Conversations with stakeholders become more tense. Teams feel pressure to commit early, while Delivery Leads are left managing expectations when reality doesn’t match the plan.

At this point, many Delivery Leads start asking a different question:

What if predictability isn’t about estimating better, but about understanding how work actually flows?

Delivery Beyond Story Points

When delivery moves beyond story points, it starts to look less like a plan and more like a system.

Work enters the system, moves through stages, and eventually finishes. Some work flows smoothly. Other work gets delayed, blocked, or interrupted. Over time, patterns begin to emerge.

And those patterns matter far more than individual estimates.

By focusing on flow, Delivery Leads start to see why work behaves the way it does. They see how too much work in progress slows everything down. They see where work consistently waits. They see how variability builds risk long before a deadline is missed. This visibility changes what delivery leadership looks like in practice.

From defending estimates to explaining reality

When flow becomes the focus, the Delivery Lead’s role shifts.

Instead of defending estimates, they help teams and stakeholders understand reality. Instead of reacting to surprises, they surface risk earlier. Instead of promising certainty, they talk openly about likelihood and trade-offs.

This isn’t about abandoning planning or discipline. Estimation can still support team conversations. But it stops being the primary input for system-level decisions.

Delivery leadership beyond story points is about making better decisions with confidence. It’s about using evidence from past delivery to inform future decisions. And creating shared understanding across teams and stakeholders.

For many Delivery Leads, this leads to calmer conversations and stronger trust over time. Stakeholders may not always hear exactly what they want, but they understand why decisions are made. Teams feel less pressure to defend numbers and more space to focus on finishing work.

Moving forward with flow

Flow-based thinking offers a practical way to move in this direction.

By observing how work actually moves through the system, Delivery Leads gain insight into predictability, risk, and capacity that estimation alone can’t provide. It creates a more stable foundation for decision-making, even when uncertainty remains.

If this reflects your experience, you’re not alone. We’ve created The Delivery Leader’s Guide to Flow-Based Metrics, a practical introduction to leading delivery with flow, not points.

It explores how Delivery Leads can move beyond estimation and use real delivery data to improve predictability and decision-making.

If you’d like to go deeper, you can download the full guide and continue the journey beyond story points.

Download The Delivery Leader’s Guide to Flow-Based Metrics.

Get the free guide

Why estimation struggles at scale, and what delivery leaders can use instead.

55 Degrees — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Estimation is deeply embedded in how many organisations plan and talk about delivery. It provides structure, numbers, and a sense of control in environments that often feel uncertain. For Delivery Leaders, estimation can feel like a necessary tool, something that helps align teams and reassure stakeholders.

Yet, despite careful planning and repeated estimation, predictability often remains elusive.

Many Delivery Leads recognise the pattern. Plans are revisited. Timelines are adjusted. Explanations are repeated. Even with detailed estimates in place, delivery still surprises us, and not in good ways. This disconnect creates frustration for teams, stakeholders, and Delivery Leads alike.

The problem usually isn’t bad estimation. It’s what estimation is being asked to do.

Story points and similar techniques were originally designed to support team-level conversations. They help teams discuss complexity, surface assumptions, and build shared understanding. Used this way, they can be valuable.

Trouble starts when estimates are stretched beyond that context.

As delivery responsibility expands across teams and initiatives, estimates are aggregated, compared, and rolled up. They’re used to forecast timelines and support commitments at a system level. At that point, the assumptions behind them begin to weaken.

Different teams estimate differently. Context gets lost. Variability is hidden inside averages. What looked precise during planning becomes fragile during execution.

This is where Delivery Leads feel the tension most clearly.

Even with detailed estimates, reality keeps intervening. Work is interrupted. Dependencies emerge late. Priorities shift. Estimates are revised sometimes repeatedly. Over time, confidence in the numbers erodes.

To compensate, Delivery Leads often add buffers, contingency plans, or extra layers of reporting. These actions are meant to restore confidence, but they also increase complexity and pressure without addressing the root issue.

What’s missing in these situations isn’t better estimation. It’s evidence.

Evidence-based delivery starts by looking at how work has actually behaved in the past. Every delivery system produces data. Work items start and finish. Time passes. Some work flows smoothly. Other work slows down, waits, or gets blocked.

Over time, these patterns reveal far more about predictability than estimates ever can.

By observing cycle times, completion rates, and how work ages, Delivery Leads gain insight into how their system really operates. Variability becomes visible instead of hidden. Risk surfaces earlier, not only when deadlines are missed.

This shift changes delivery conversations.

Instead of debating whether an estimate was accurate, teams and leaders discuss patterns. Instead of asking who was wrong, they ask what the system is telling them. Instead of focusing only on planned outcomes, they consider likely outcomes.

Flow-based thinking builds on this evidence. It focuses on how work moves through the system over time. It highlights the impact of work in progress, handovers, and interruptions, and helps explain why starting more work often leads to finishing less.

Importantly, this approach doesn’t mean abandoning planning. Planning still matters. What changes is what informs it.

When planning is grounded in evidence rather than assumptions, Delivery Leads can speak more confidently about risk and likelihood. Stakeholders gain a clearer understanding of what’s possible. Teams feel less pressure to defend numbers and more space to focus on finishing work.

That’s why many Delivery Leads are exploring flow-based metrics as a complement to their existing practices, not to replace everything they do, but to strengthen decision-making where estimation falls short.

If this feels familiar, there’s a practical next step.

We’ve created The Delivery Leader’s Guide to Flow-Based Metrics, a practical introduction to leading delivery with flow, not points. The guide explores how Delivery Leaders can move from estimation to evidence, and use flow-based insights to improve predictability and confidence.

You can download the full guide to learn how to apply this shift in your own delivery context.

Download The Delivery Leader’s Guide to Flow-Based Metrics.

Get the free guide

Agile Forecasting: Leading to Better Outcomes

55 Degrees — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Evidence-Based Management: How Agile Forecasting and EBM Lead to Better Outcomes

Evidence-Based Management (EBM) is a framework that helps organizations make smarter, more informed decisions by using empirical data to evaluate and improve performance. Developed by the creators of Scrum, EBM pairs seamlessly with agile practices, helping teams measure value delivery through Key Value Areas such as Current Value, Time-to-Market, and Unrealized Value. It ensures that decisions are grounded in evidence rather than assumptions.

By continuously inspecting and adapting, EBM enables incremental improvements, allowing teams to deliver measurable outcomes that align with business goals.

EBM ties into Agile Forecasting by providing a framework for using empirical data to guide decision-making, measure progress, and forecast outcomes. EBM focuses on outcomes and the evidence of value delivered, making it a natural complement to Agile Forecasting, which uses data and probabilistic methods to predict future performance.

How Agile Forecasting and EBM Work Together

EBM ties directly into Agile Forecasting by providing a framework for using data to guide decisions, measure progress, and forecast outcomes. EBM focuses on the evidence of value delivered, while Agile Forecasting, powered by tools like ActionableAgile® Analytics, uses flow metrics and probabilistic methods to predict future performance with greater accuracy and transparency.

Here’s how the two approaches align:

1. Focusing on Value Delivery

EBM emphasizes maximizing value rather than focusing solely on outputs. Agile Forecasting complements this by helping teams predict when and how much value they can deliver based on real historical data.

For instance, with ActionableAgile® Analytics, teams can:

Use Throughput forecasting to estimate how many high-value features will be completed by a target date.

Run Monte Carlo simulations to calculate the likelihood of delivering a prioritized set of features within a specific timeframe, ensuring alignment between delivery and strategic business goals.

2. Data-Driven Decision Making

EBM relies on empirical evidence, using Key Value Areas such as Current Value, Time-to-Market, and Unrealized Value, to support informed decision-making. Similarly, Agile Forecasting uses historical data, such as Throughput and Cycle Time, to make accurate predictions about future performance.

This shared reliance on data ensures that:

Teams can prioritize work that maximizes value and deliver features faster to meet customer needs.

Forecasting provides clear estimates of Time-to-Market for specific features or product increments, helping stakeholders understand delivery timelines and plan with greater confidence.

3. Continuous Improvement through Metrics

Both EBM and Agile Forecasting thrive on continuous feedback loops.

Agile Forecasting uses key flow metrics (Cycle time, WIP, Throughput) to refine predictions and identify improvement opportunities.

EBM integrates these metrics into broader Key Value Areas, helping organizations evaluate how process changes impact business outcomes, such as reducing delays (Time-to-Market) or increasing stakeholder satisfaction (Current Value).

This creates a data-informed culture where progress is visible, measurable, and continuously improving.

4. Risk Management

In EBM, understanding risks is essential for managing Unrealized Value, the gap between potential and actual value delivered.

Agile Forecasting, especially when powered by ActionableAgile® Analytics, enhances risk management by providing probabilistic forecasts that reveal the likelihood of meeting specific delivery targets, enabling teams to plan for variability and uncertainty.

It also helps surface bottlenecks and inefficiencies in delivery processes through flow metrics, allowing teams to identify where delays could threaten value delivery.

5. Transparency and Stakeholder Confidence

EBM encourages transparency by using metrics to communicate progress and value delivery. Agile Forecasting supports this by:

Providing clear, data-driven forecasts that help stakeholders make informed decisions with confidence.

Demonstrating probabilities and scenarios (e.g., “There’s an 85% chance of delivering 15 features by the end of the quarter”) to set realistic expectations and foster trust between teams and stakeholders. These kinds of insights are easily visualized through ActionableAgile® Analytics.

Better Together: Turning Data into Decisions

When organizations combine EBM’s focus on measurable value with Agile Forecasting’s probabilistic insights, they unlock a new level of predictability and alignment.

Together, these practices enable teams to:

Improve predictability while maintaining agility and flexibility.

Align team efforts with strategic goals.

Use real-world data to guide decisions, reduce uncertainty, and deliver incremental value continuously.

This partnership between Leading EDJE and 55 Degrees highlights how EBM and Agile Forecasting can work hand in hand to build truly data-driven organizations, where teams deliver the right value at the right time.

Resources to Get Started

Ebook: If you'd like a deeper dive into getting started with Flow Metrics, you can download the free ebook.

Ready to get started and understand flow metrics?

If you’ve been curious about Flow Metrics but unsure where to start, this guide breaks it down in a straightforward, human way.

No jargon. No complexity. Just practical steps toward more predictable delivery.

Download E-Book

Agile Forecasting: Monte Carlo Simulations and Flow Metrics

55 Degrees — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 23:00:00 GMT

The Ongoing Battle of Agile vs Waterfall

Agile teams often face challenges in predicting project timelines and delivery dates due to the framework's inherent flexibility, which prioritizes adaptability over rigid schedules.

While this approach aligns with Agile principles, most IT departments operate within yearly budgets that require some level of forecasting to understand when funded initiatives are to be completed. But scoping out an entire year’s worth of work is not only inefficient but also counterproductive to Agile’s iterative nature.

Traditional approaches, such as deterministic forecasting (forecasting to a single date) commonly used in waterfall methodologies, attempt to map out the entire scope, timeline, and resource allocation for a project upfront. However, this assumes that requirements, priorities, and team performance will remain static Throughout the project lifecycle, a notion that rarely aligns with the realities of modern software development.

When unexpected changes arise (e.g., shifting priorities, evolving customer needs, or unforeseen technical challenges), deterministic plans become obsolete, leading to missed deadlines, mismanagement, and stakeholder frustration.

So, what's a team to do when they are stuck in this conundrum? How can teams forecast work enough to satisfy the planning and budgetary needs of most IT departments while staying nimble enough to produce high-quality, useful software features?

This is where Agile Forecasting using Flow Metrics and Monte Carlo Simulation comes in handy.

A Smarter Way to Forecast

In contrast to more rigid waterfall planning, predictive approaches like Agile Forecasting are better suited for today’s dynamic software development environment. By leveraging historical data and probabilistic models, Agile Forecasting embraces variability and uncertainty, allowing teams to provide a realistic range of outcomes associated with a probability of success, rather than a fixed, single date that often results in unrealistic predictions.

Techniques like Monte Carlo Simulations and flow metrics help teams forecast delivery timelines and Throughput with greater accuracy, enabling more informed decision-making and proactive risk management.

Agile Forecasting bridges the gap between the adaptability of Agile and the need for predictability in IT planning. It empowers teams to achieve realistic goals without compromising flexibility, delivering value iteratively while meeting business expectations.

In this post, we’ll delve into how Agile Forecasting, powered by tools like Monte Carlo Simulations and flow metrics, can revolutionize the way teams plan, execute, and deliver their work.

The Case for Agile Forecasting

Agile forecasting is a method used to predict how much work a team can complete within a given timeframe by leveraging historical data and current performance metrics.

Unlike deterministic approaches, such as the upfront, rigid project planning typical of the waterfall methodology, it embraces variability and applies probabilistic thinking to deliver a more accurate range of potential outcomes. By adopting agile forecasting, teams can:

Set achievable goals:

Use historical data and flow metrics to make realistic predictions about what the team can complete.

Manage risks effectively:

Leverage probabilistic forecasting to account for variability and visualize bottlenecks with Cumulative Flow Diagrams (CFD) and flow metrics.

Use Monte Carlo Simulations to create contingency plans and apply Work in Progress (WIP) limits to reduce Cycle Times.

Improve stakeholder confidence in delivery timelines:

Provide data-driven forecasts using Monte Carlo Simulations and refine them continuously with updated metrics.

Flow Metrics: The Foundation of Agile Forecasting

Flow metrics are essential for understanding how efficiently work moves through a development process. The key metrics include:

Cycle Time: The time it takes for a work item to move from start to finish.

Work in Progress (WIP): The number of active items being worked on.

Throughput: The number of items completed in a given time period.

Work Item Age: The elapsed time since work on an item started.

Applying Flow Metrics in Practice:

Sprint Planning: Use throughput to determine how much work to pull into a sprint, moving away from deterministic velocity metrics.

Retrospectives: Analyze Cycle Time scatterplots to identify patterns or outliers and improve processes.

WIP Limits: Leverage Little’s Law (a principle linking WIP, Throughput, and Cycle Time) to understand how limiting WIP improves Cycle Time and overall flow efficiency.

Monte Carlo Simulations: A Powerful Tool for Forecasting

Monte Carlo Simulations (MCS) is a computational algorithm that uses repeated random sampling to generate probabilities for a range of outcomes. In agile forecasting, MCS helps answer critical questions:

How many items can we close by a target date?

When will a specific number of items be completed?

How many items can we close by a target date?

This question is answered by running simulations using historical Throughput data (e.g., the average number of items completed per sprint). By analyzing this data, the simulation generates a probability distribution that predicts how many items are likely to be completed by a specific date.

For example, the output might indicate there is an 85% chance of completing 20 items, or 70% chance of completing 25 items, by the end of the next sprint. This insight helps teams set realistic expectations and manage scope effectively within a defined timeframe.

When will a specific number of items be completed?

To answer this, the simulation uses the same historical Throughput or Cycle Time data to estimate the range of dates by which a set number of items can be delivered. The result is expressed as probabilities, such as a 90% likelihood of completing 30 items within 25 days.

This information is particularly valuable for fixed-scope projects, where knowing the approximate completion date is critical for planning and stakeholder communication.

Monte Carlo Simulations in Action with ActionableAgile® Analytics

Monte Carlo Simulations can be run using general analytics tools, but those often require extra setup and manual work. ActionableAgile® Analytics streamlines the process, making forecasting faster and easier.

It automatically collects your historical Throughput and Cycle Time data from Jira (or Azure DevOps) and runs thousands of simulations in seconds, delivering clear, visual probability forecasts without the need for complex setup.

With ActionableAgile® Analytics, teams can:

Instantly generate probability charts showing the likelihood of hitting specific delivery targets.

Visualize forecasts alongside real-time flow metrics such as WIP, Throughput, and Cycle Time for a complete picture of performance.

Adjust variables dynamically to explore what-if scenarios and assess how changes in WIP, scope, or team Throughput might affect outcomes.

This blend of empirical data and simulation-based forecasting gives teams and stakeholders the confidence to plan realistically, manage risk proactively, and adapt without losing predictability.

How It Works

Gather Historical Data: Collect Throughput or Cycle Time data (e.g., completed tasks per sprint). Even a few weeks’ worth of data is enough to start.

Run Simulations: Use this data to simulate thousands of possible outcomes, accounting for variability and uncertainty.

Generate Probabilities: Calculate the likelihood of achieving specific delivery goals, instantly visualized through tools like ActionableAgile® Analytics.

For example, an MCS might show there’s an 85% chance of completing 20 items in the next sprint. This approach is especially useful for fixed-scope or fixed-date projects, providing actionable insights into what’s achievable.

Continuous Improvement with Agile Forecasting

Agile Forecasting isn’t a one-time activity. It’s a continuous cycle of inspection, adaptation, and learning. By regularly analyzing flow metrics and leveraging probabilistic tools like Monte Carlo Simulations through ActionableAgile® Analytics, teams can refine their workflows, improve predictability, and deliver value more consistently.

Tools and Resources to Get Started

Ebook: If you'd like a deeper dive into getting started with Flow Metrics, you can download the free ebook.

Ready to get started and understand flow metrics?

If you’ve been curious about Flow Metrics but unsure where to start, this guide breaks it down in a straightforward, human way.

No jargon. No complexity. Just practical steps toward more predictable delivery.

Download E-Book

Books: When will it be done by Daniel Vacanti and Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: Tenth Anniversary Edition by Daniel Vacanti

Tools: ActionableAgile® Analytics

By adopting these techniques and tools, your team can shift from guesswork to reliable, evidence-based forecasting, delivering work with confidence, clarity, and predictability.

This article is part of a collaboration between 55 Degrees and Leading EDJE, combining expertise in agile forecasting and evidence-based management to help teams plan smarter and deliver value predictably.

Downloadable E-Book: Flow Metrics Explained

55 Degrees — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Struggling to trust your delivery dates?

If you’ve ever struggled to explain flow metrics, get buy-in from leadership, or simply make delivery more predictable, this guide is for you.

We partnered with innovative technology leader, Leading EDJE to produce a clear, conversational, and practical introduction to Flow Metrics. Perfect for teams taking their first step into data-driven delivery.

This free resource breaks down the fundamentals, shows how to get started without changing your entire process, and gives you real-world examples you can take straight into your organization.

What You’ll Learn

What flow metrics are and how they differ from traditional estimation
The four core metrics to start with: WIP, Cycle Time, Work Item Age, and Throughput
How to introduce flow metrics without disrupting your current process
How to build a simple business case for leadership
Common challenges teams face and how to overcome them

"Using Flow Metrics and Probabilistic Forecasting gave me the clarity I needed as a Product Manager to understand delivery dates and actual risk. It took the guesswork out of the equation and made my conversations with stakeholders much more realistic and productive"

Product Manager - David's Bridal

Ready to get started and understand flow metrics?

If you’ve been curious about Flow Metrics but unsure where to start, this guide breaks it down in a straightforward, human way.

No jargon. No complexity. Just practical steps toward more predictable delivery.

Download E-Book

Tracking and Achieving Tech Team OKRs in Jira with Agile Flow Metrics

55 Degrees — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 23:00:00 GMT

If you’re tracking OKRs solely with Jira’s built-in reports, you’re steering your team using outdated snapshots rather than real-time insights. Jira may display metrics, but it lacks the tools necessary to identify what’s slowing progress, where tasks stall, or whether you’re truly on track to meet your goals.

Without answers to these questions, you’re left reacting to issues rather than proactively addressing them.

To stop navigating with outdated data, you need tools specifically designed to work with OKRs. With Oboard and ActionableAgile® Analytics, you can move from passive tracking to proactive execution. In other words, you get to fix issues before they derail your goals.

And yes, Jira offers free reports, such as Control Charts and Cumulative Flow Diagrams (CFDs). And you might think that they are enough. But let’s be honest — do they tell you what you need to know?

Four Things Jira Won’t Tell You

Are we on track to meet our key results?
What’s slowing us down?
Where are work items piling up?
If we continue at this pace, will we succeed?

If you’re serious about hitting your OKRs, you need answers to these questions. And Jira won’t tell you any of this. At its absolute best, it will provide you with circumstantial data from which you can extrapolate the real answers, but this takes time and a lot of trial and error to see it properly.

With the effort and time it takes to parse the free Jira reports, you will still be reacting to problems instead of preventing them.

How Oboard and ActionableAgile® Analytics Connect Strategy to Work

OKR Board for Jira helps teams define and track OKRs within Jira, ensuring clear alignment between strategy and execution. It provides easy-to-use tools for OKR tracking and management, along with customizable, real-time OKR reports

ActionableAgile® Analytics is a powerful flow metrics tool that helps teams track work progress, spot bottlenecks, and improve predictability — all within Jira. With insights into Cycle Time, Throughput, Aging Work in Progress (WIP), and Monte Carlo Simulations, teams can move beyond gut feeling and make data-driven decisions about delivery speed and efficiency.

By using ActionableAgile® alongside Oboard, teams can bridge the gap between strategy (OKRs) and execution (flow metrics), ensuring they don’t just set goals — they achieve them.

Key Flow Metrics That Help Tech Teams Achieve OKRs

Tech teams using Jira often set OKRs around efficiency, speed, and stability. To emphasize those qualities, we recommend you to focus on the flow metrics, such as:

Cycle Time – Tracks how long issues take to move from “In Progress” to “Done,” helping teams identify bottlenecks in Jira workflows and optimize handoffs.
Throughput – Measures completed Jira issues over a set period, ensuring teams can track delivery rates and adjust sprint or release goals accordingly.
Aging Work in Progress (Aging WIP) – Identifies stalled tasks in Jira boards, highlighting risks before they impact OKRs tied to lead time or efficiency.
(Bonus Tip) Monte Carlo Simulations – Forecasts OKR success by predicting feature delivery dates based on historical Jira data, helping teams set realistic deadlines.

These metrics will provide you with the clarity that Jira alone cannot. For example, if an Engineering team’s OKR is “Reduce deployment lead time by 20%,” flow metrics show where the slowdowns occur. If Aging WIP is high, it signals that tasks are getting stuck. If Cycle Time isn’t improving, teams can identify process bottlenecks and improve efficiency.

Real-World Examples of Flow Metrics for Tech Team OKRs

When it comes to improving how your tech team works, OKRs are just the start — flow metrics reveal why things slow down and where adjustments are needed. Below are real-world examples of how DevOps and Scrum teams use metrics like Cycle Time, Aging WIP, and Throughput to turn objectives into action and challenges into insights.

OKR: Improve Software Stability & Reliability

A DevOps team using Jira has the following OKR:

[O] Improve stability by accelerating issue resolution and reducing system failures.
- [KR1] Reduce the number of unresolved critical incidents in Jira by 20%.
- [KR2] Decrease mean time to resolution (MTTR) for performance-related issues by 30%.

They can use the following Agile Flow Metrics to see the actual challenges behind it:

Cycle Time for bug and performance fixes measures how long it takes for Jira issues to be resolved from detection to resolution, identifying potential delays.
Throughput of resolved incidents ensures the team completes fixes at a sustainable rate to meet the OKR.
Aging WIP highlights bottlenecks by identifying Jira issues that have been in progress for too long without being completed.

Example in Action

The Engineering team analyzes Cycle Time trends and sees that critical incidents take an average of 20 days to resolve, with 4 days spent in triage before work begins. This insight sparks discussions on reducing triage time and optimizing handoffs, leading to actions that shorten resolution times and help achieve the OKR.

OKR: Improve Deployment Speed & Predictability (Scrum Team Focused)

A Scrum team working in Jira set the following OKR:

[O] Improve delivery speed and predictability;
- [KR1] Increase the number of completed and deployed features per sprint by 25%;
- [KR2] Ensure 90% of committed backlog items are delivered within the sprint.

To uncover what’s slowing them down, they rely on these Agile Flow Metrics:

Cycle Time for feature development indicates where delays occur throughout the sprint workflow.
Throughput of completed stories tracks how consistently the team delivers value.
Monte Carlo Simulations forecast sprint completion likelihood and help manage delivery expectations.

Example in Action

The team notices that P1 bugs often fail to meet SLA deadlines. A closer look at Cycle Time reveals that these bugs remain in the “Pending Release” state for up to 20+ days. That insight triggers improvements in prioritization, Jira automations for fast-tracking critical bugs, and a new escalation process. The result? Faster resolutions, happier customers, and an OKR achieved.

Conclusion

Setting OKRs is the easy part. Making them happen? That’s where most teams struggle. Oboard provides the structure to align strategy within Jira. ActionableAgile shows you how work is flowing — or not. Used together, they help teams stop guessing, start seeing, and take action where it matters.

Because hitting your goals shouldn’t be about scrambling at the end of the quarter — it should be about knowing, early and often, whether you’re on track.

Curious what that looks like in practice? Try combining Oboard and ActionableAgile®—and start closing the gap between ambition and delivery.

About Oboard

https://oboard.io/ is an Atlassian Marketplace app that helps teams set, track, and achieve OKRs directly in Jira. By connecting strategic goals to daily work, Oboard provides the structure teams need to stay aligned and focused on what matters most.

This post was created in close collaboration with Margo Sakova, Marketing Manager at Oboard.

What Is An Agile Maturity Assessment?

55 Degrees — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 22:00:00 GMT

This article is a guest contribution from 55 Degrees Partner, Automation Consultants. Automation Consultants (AC) is an Agile and DevOps Consultancy, dedicated to helping you maximise the value and power of Atlassian tools. Whether you’re embarking on your Cloud-first journey, need to optimise Atlassian tooling, or would benefit from dedicated Atlassian training, AC will guide you to a successful outcome.

When teams first start out on their Agile journey, they often have a number of goals in mind.

You may have similar ones: To improve product quality. For your people to operate more collaboratively. To benefit from embedded continuous development and improvement. The list goes on.

But ‘becoming Agile’ does not happen overnight. Often, it can take a long time to truly embed Agile working practices and foster a suitable working environment, where failure is valued and communication is open.

How do you know if you’re there yet? And how do you know how far you have to go? These are questions that an Agile Maturity Assessment (AMA) can answer

What is Agile maturity?

Agile maturity is the extent to which an organisation or team effectively implements and continuously improves Agile practices, processes and culture. In doing this, they can enhance flexibility, collaboration, and productivity, and deliver value, both internally and to customers.

How do you know when you’ve reached Agile maturity?

Whilst it’s tempting to simply say ‘Take an Agile Maturity Assessment and you’ll find out!‘, the truth is that Agile maturity level is not, of course, a static state. The very essence of Agile is fluid, with continuous improvement and feedback loops, a culture of failing fast and learning from mistakes, and the ability to respond to change and pivot accordingly.

As a general rule, we’d describe Advanced Agile Mastery as when Agile principles are deeply rooted in a team or organisation’s operations and culture.

Challenges of adopting Agile

Some organisations – and yours may be included in this – tend to struggle implementing Agile from the start.

Ostensibly it’s a fairly light manifesto – more of a philosophy rather than a set of rules. But to truly embed Agile and achieve advanced mastery, you may have to overcome a number of challenges:

Lack of stakeholder engagement or understanding: This is a real blocker for a number of organisations. There needs to be a top-down approach to Agile adoption, with leadership understanding and valuing its purpose. It’s also important to secure this support because, as with any period of change, there may be some initial teething issues. You need your key stakeholders and leadership team to recognise that change doesn’t happen overnight.
Outdated tooling and processes: Whilst the Agile Manifesto favours ‘individuals and interactions over tools and processes‘, it’s still valuable to review your tooling. Jira, for example, is designed for Agile project management, with a number of dedicated templates and boards to support teams. Some platforms may be less Agile-friendly, which can hinder the flow of work.
An unsafe working environment: Agile teams need a safe and supportive working environment to flourish, where mistakes are recognised as learning opportunities. Again, this is where your leadership’s support is also vital.

If you’re struggling with challenges like these, AC’s Agile coaching services could be just the solution. Ranging from ongoing coaching support to stand-alone workshops, we can deliver you bespoke coaching to meet your needs and overcome your challenges.

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What is an Agile Maturity Assessment (AMA)?

Sometimes referred to as an Agile Readiness Assessment, an AMA is a structured evaluation process used to measure and analyse an organisation’s level of Agile adoption and identify areas for improvement. We’ll identify gaps, offer actionable recommendations, and set you on a smooth path to successful Agile transformation.

Now, some organisations may approach this in different ways but, here at AC, our Agile Maturity Assessment model is based on five key areas:

People: This area includes cross-skills and continuous learning, levels of empowerment and motivation across your team, and how feedback and growth is embedded.
Strategy: From your team’s alignment with organisational vision to the use of measurement and analytics, this area explores how your work aligns with overarching goals and priorities.
Culture: This area assesses your working environment, including whether transparency and communication has been fostered, how committed your team or organisation is to Agile principles, and how failure is valued (or not as the case may be…).
Teams: In this section, we’d evaluate the autonomy and collaboration of your teams.
Operations: Encompassing tooling, delivery, testing and more.

We’ll guide you through each element, and award a score from 1-5 for each. At the end of the assessment, your total score will demonstrate at what level of Agile maturity you’re currently operating.

What happens after the assessment?

This is where the real gold happens.

It’s only once you know what a problem is that you can fix it. Once we’ve run you through your Agile audit, you’ll be assigned a level of maturity – and this could be ‘emerging’, ‘maturing’ or ‘advanced’.

We can then put together a plan of action for you, to help you adjust and improve your working practices and environment. Ultimately, all the action points we’d recommend will go towards helping your organisation be in a stronger position to truly embed Agile principles and experience long-term success – or to continually improve your existing processes.

Benefits of an Agile Maturity Assessment

So, why take an audit like this? What benefits could it deliver?

Identifies gaps and areas for improvement: Sometimes outside eyes are needed to gauge where you can enhance your processes and how.
Celebrates your successes: It can also be valuable to demonstrate where elements of your Agile adoption are going well!
Reinforces the value of Agile: An Agile assessment, like the one we’ve described here, can help to reaffirm its importance and the benefits that the Agile mindset can deliver. This can be important for stakeholders and even reticent team members to remember.
Provides you with a bespoke action plan: Ultimately, you’ll end your Agile audit with a practical plan that you can use to make meaningful and pragmatic changes.
After-care: Here at AC, we don’t simply close the door after we deliver our post-audit recommendations. We also provide additional support and consultancy services. From Agile coaching to Jira Align implementation and consultancy, we can guide you through each step of your Agile journey.

How to assess your agile maturity model?

If you’d like to understand how Agile your organisation is, and how you can enhance your Agile adoption even further, simply contact Automation Consultants today to begin your journey to Agile mastery.

Automation Consultants Agile Maturity Assessment offering provides a flexible and valuable way to enhance your workflow, culture and output.

Ready to understand your Agile Maturity?

Start with a free 30-minute consultation call. Register below.

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55 Degrees Achieves ISO 27001:2022 Certification, Staying Ahead in Data Protection.

55 Degrees — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 22:00:00 GMT

At 55 Degrees, we believe that trust is earned through transparency and consistent action. That’s why we continuously invest in the security and reliability of our products and services. We’re proud to announce that 55 Degrees has successfully achieved certification for the latest ISO 27001:2022 standard, the global benchmark for information security management.

This certification demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting your data and strengthening trust. It ensures that every forecast, chart, and data set you interact with is backed by industry-leading security standards designed to keep your information safe.

Why Updating to the 2022 Specification Matters

The digital landscape evolves quickly, with new technologies, cloud environments, and security threats constantly emerging. The ISO 27001:2022 update reflects these realities by incorporating modern practices for risk management, privacy, and resilience.

Transitioning to the new version ensures our Information Security Management System (ISMS) remains aligned with today’s best practices and regulatory expectations. More importantly, it demonstrates our continued commitment to proactively safeguarding customer data, rather than simply meeting a compliance checkbox.

What’s New in ISO 27001:2022

The updated 2022 specification introduces several key improvements over the 2013 version:

Updated controls for today’s security landscape: 11 new controls were added, addressing areas like cloud services, data leakage prevention, threat intelligence, and secure coding practices.

Simplified and modernized structure: The control set was reduced from 114 to 93, grouped into four logical domains (Organizational, People, Physical, and Technological), making it easier to manage and communicate.

Enhanced focus on continuous improvement: The update places greater emphasis on regular risk assessment, performance metrics, and adaptability to evolving threats.

Integration with other standards: ISO 27001:2022 is designed to align more easily with complementary frameworks such as ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 27701 (privacy information management).

How 55 Degrees Is Keeping Your Data Secure

Security at 55 Degrees is not a one-time effort, it’s part of our company culture. Our certification journey ensures that every system, process, and team member contributes to maintaining trust and integrity in how we handle customer information.

This certification applies across our entire organization, including the systems and processes behind ActionableAgile® Analytics, Portfolio Forecaster, and Inspekt, ensuring consistent, company-wide protection of your data.

Here’s how we continue to uphold and strengthen that trust:

Regular internal and external audits to ensure compliance and uncover opportunities for improvement.

Continuous monitoring of systems and access controls to detect and respond to threats swiftly.

Employee awareness and training programs that ensure security best practices are embedded across all roles.

Alignment with OWASP and SOC 2 Type II frameworks to ensure both our software development and operational processes meet the highest standards.

A Commitment That Grows With You

Achieving ISO 27001:2022 certification is just one step in our ongoing journey to protect your data and uphold the highest standards of trust. Alongside this, 55 Degrees maintains a SOC 2 Type II attestation, validating that our controls for security, availability, and confidentiality are operating effectively over time.

We’re also actively working toward DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act) compliance, ensuring that our operations continue to meet the resilience and risk management expectations of European regulators.

Together, these frameworks reinforce our commitment to robust information security, operational resilience, and regulatory readiness. As threats evolve and standards rise, we’ll continue to strengthen our practices, so you can focus on your work knowing your data is in safe hands.

Learn More About Our Security and Compliance Practices

Transparency is one of our core values. To learn more about how we protect your data:

Visit our Trust Page for an overview of our approach to security, privacy, and compliance.
Explore our Trust Center — hosted by Vanta, for up-to-date certifications, policies, and compliance evidence.

Partner Offer: Claim a free 30-minute consultation: Understand your Agile Maturity

55 Degrees — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 22:00:00 GMT

Is your organisation ready for next-level agility?

Many teams face challenges like maintaining alignment, navigating siloes, and adapting quickly to change. The right guidance and practical support can make all the difference.

That’s where our partners, Automation Consultants, come in.

For both new and existing customers, we’re happy to share a chance to book a free 30-minute Agile Maturity Consultation with one of their experts.

In this call, you’ll:

Explore the challenges your teams are facing.
Gain insights into what “agility” really looks like in practice.
Understand whether a full Agile Maturity Assessment (AMA) could help take your organisation to the next level.

The Agile Maturity Assessment itself pinpoints where agility can be strengthened—revealing opportunities for collaboration, efficiency, and business impact. It provides a structured, data-driven view of your current maturity level and delivers actionable recommendations to help you move forward.

And with regular AMAs, organisations can track progress, measure success, and continuously adapt to evolving business demands.

When combined with ActionableAgile Analytics, teams gain even deeper insights into their delivery performance by using flow metrics and probabilistic forecasting to complement maturity assessments and accelerate real improvement.

"Automation Consultants helped us pinpoint exactly where we could improve, and their insights led to real measurable change in our team's performance"

Senior Director of Software Engineering at British FinTech Business

Ready to understand your Agile Maturity?

Start with a free 30-minute consultation call. Register below.

Book a free call