Sprint volatility
The Sprint volatility report measures how much the sprint scope changed after the sprint started. Use this metric to identify scope creep, unplanned interruptions, or issues with sprint locking practices.
When to use sprint volatility
Sprint volatility answers the question: How much did the scope change mid-sprint?
This report helps teams:
- Identify scope creep — Understand how often new work is being added after sprint planning.
- Spot process issues — High volatility may indicate poor sprint locking discipline or frequent interruptions.
- Explain low predictability — When sprint predictability is low, high volatility is often the cause.
How volatility percentage is calculated
The volatility percentage is calculated as:
Unplanned work ÷ Total work
Where:
- Unplanned work is the story point/issue count for issues added after the sprint started
- Total work is the story point/issue count for all issues in the sprint, whether planned or unplanned
This metric specifically tracks items where planned = false—issues that were added after the sprint start date. Sprint volatility can be calculated based on either story points or issue counts.
Understanding planned vs. unplanned work
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Planned points | Story points for issues that existed in the sprint at the sprint start time |
| Unplanned points | Story points for issues added after the sprint started |
| Completed points | Story points for all issues marked complete during the sprint, regardless of when they were added |
How sprint volatility relates to other sprint metrics
Sprint volatility provides context for interpreting sprint completion and sprint predictability:
- High volatility + low predictability — Suggests that scope creep is disrupting the team’s ability to deliver on commitments.
- High volatility + high completion — Indicates the team is absorbing additional work and still closing it out, but may be at risk of burnout or unsustainable pace.
- Low volatility — Suggests strong sprint discipline, making predictability a more reliable measure of planning accuracy.