Atlassian Agile Project Management Professional Certification Practice Exam

What can a cumulative flow diagram be used to analyze?

1. The number of team members needed

2. How long issues were in each status of workflow

3. The budget allocated to issues

4. The overall team morale

The correct answer is: How long issues were in each status of workflow

A cumulative flow diagram (CFD) is a powerful tool used in Agile project management to visualize the progress of work items through various stages of the workflow over time. It represents the number of work items that are in different stages (e.g., To Do, In Progress, Done) at any given moment, allowing teams to monitor their process flow. When analyzing the cumulative flow diagram, one can observe how long issues remain in each status of the workflow. This analysis helps identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas where the process may need improvement. For instance, if many items are lingering in the "In Progress" stage, it could indicate a need for additional resources or optimized workflow practices to reduce cycle time. Other options do not align with the primary purpose of the cumulative flow diagram. While the number of team members needed may be assessed using various project management tools and metrics, it is not a direct analysis derived from the CFD. Likewise, budget allocation trends and overall team morale are important components of project management but are typically measured through other metrics and tools rather than through a cumulative flow diagram. Thus, using a CFD to examine the duration of issues in different workflow statuses is crucial for continuous improvement in Agile practices.