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About KFC UK & Ireland KFC is a global chicken restaurant brand with a rich, decades-long history of success and innovation. It all started with one cook, Colonel Harland Sanders, who created a finger lickin’ good recipe more than 75 years ago—a list of 11 secret herbs and spices scratched out on the back of his kitchen door. Benjamin Richards and his role at KFC UK & Ireland Ben serves as a Systems Coach at KFC UK & Ireland, where his primary focus is aligning teams and individuals to drive greater efficiency while reducing waste across the organization. In his role, Ben oversees the Agile Guild,  supporting and fostering change across different business functions. His responsibilities extend beyond just delivery; he invests in building cohesive teams and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Ben has been a user of the Atlassian suite of tools for 10+ years. Background KFC UK&I has been using ActionableAgile® Analytics in Jira for four years - since 2019. 55 Degrees is proud to witness over 4 years of growth alongside KFC UK&I. The Situation KFC UK&I wanted to prioritise quick and consistent delivery of value to customers whilst understanding the health of their products. To level up the business, they began to embark on a journey of continuous improvement with the aim of becoming more predictable and having more meaningful conversations internally about how they work to meet their goals and drive meaningful outcomes. Enhancing Efficiency and Reducing Errors To improve, KFC UK&I needed to reduce the administrative burden of, and impact of human errors in, maintaining large spreadsheets for tracking team and product health metrics. Automating data to drive decision-making became an intriguing direction for the team. " There was the admin overhead of, as well as the human error within, the spreadsheets and additional data you are trying to work with. There was a lack of standardisation and continuity " Advancing Towards Standardised Processes A lack of standardisation and continuity in data analysis processes made it difficult to get a consistent and accurate view of team and product health. It was clear that this created barriers to communicating data and language across teams. Facilitating Seamless Data Exchange and Contextual Understanding: Sharing data and insights between teams and stakeholders was challenging, leading to inefficiencies and misinterpretation. There was an incomplete bigger picture between the teams thanks to data silos and standardisation. " The spreadsheet that I was operating from was easy for me, because I'd gone through the pain of curating and creating it. However, maintaining at scale and taking others on the journey to take ownership a struggle, and rightly so. " The Solution: ActionableAgile® Analytics When KFC UK&I decided to move toward a data-driven and automated approach to agility, it was important that they were able to use their existing data in Jira. ActionableAgile® Analytics for Jira was ideal, because users don’t have to leave Jira, and because the data in Jira stayed safely in Jira at all times.  Once starting with ActionableAgile® Analytics , KFC UK&I saved time from the very start by avoiding manual spreadsheets and loading their existing historical data directly from Jira in minutes (or less). There was no more waiting - discussions could start immediately! " With ActionableAgile™️ Analytics we could work with data at its source and leverage our existing system (Jira) - with ease. Being able to define data, manipulate it, and assess different time periods - that was a massive win. " Overcoming Data Silos and Misinterpretation For KFC UK&I, the team can now center conversations around work items and business goals. The teams are able to view the same data and trust in its integrity. This shift promotes a true team mentality, focusing not only on execution, but also on intentional collaboration and alignment with business objectives.  This aspect, often overlooked in many companies, is now a focal point for KFC UK&I, enhancing overall team effectiveness and cohesion. " It’s great to see the recent releases [to ActionableAgile® Analytics ], such as the ability to share datasets. Even though I am not in the weeds of the day-to-day [in teams], I can still at least sing from the same hymn sheet that the scrum masters are working from, rather than second-guessing the data filtering ."  Actionable data to paint a bigger picture Data should serve a purpose and, above all, be actionable. If you stop at consuming a chart, you are robbing yourself of huge rewards. The big win is using this data to have the right conversations at the right times, so you can take the right actions and make the right decisions.  That is why, across all teams, at least once a quarter, the Agile Guild team at KFC UK&I will now take a snapshot of data from ActionableAgile® Analytics and complement with narration and context around that data.  This ensures everyone knows how the data is being interpreted, sees the context that goes into that interpretation, and allows deeper discussion among everyone who consumes it. " We might see a 5% decrease in throughput - okay, well, that is a number. But actually, the context applied brings the meaning and driving action.  We are able to take data and have meaningful conversations as a collective. We tried x and saw y improvement – in doing so we look to standardise, consolidate, and normalise practices if there is a shared consensus that there is value and benefit from it. "  Supporting real conversations with stakeholders By providing accurate and transparent data, ActionableAgile® Analytics has built greater trust among team members and stakeholders in the insights derived from the data. There has been an enhanced ability to have meaningful, data-backed conversations with business partners and stakeholders, aligning them to the value stream and helping ensure everyone is on the same page. An example of this can be seen during a recent quarterly review process meeting, where the team presented data with context in the following areas: Arrival Rate vs. Throughput '24  – Using ActionableAgile® Analytics , the team demonstrated that 36% more work had entered the backlog over the quarter. It's encouraging that, alongside this increase, throughput also rose by 16%, meaning work is flowing smoothly through the team, and they are managing the higher demand without causing significant backlogs. However, this will be something to monitor closely going forward. Cycle Time  – ActionableAgile® Analytics highlighted that the team’s cycle time had increased by 27% during the quarter. While this could be alarming to stakeholders without context, the team was able to explain that the increase was due to external factors, such as a recent code freeze and reduction of team " A big takeaway is being able to support meaningful conversation with our business partners [Stakeholders], that align to the value stream(s). Having an elevated level of trust in the data of how we operate to support outcomes is a must have. "  Continuous improvement using data With one of the main drivers being continuous improvement, KFC UK&I run a quarterly Kaizen (that’s Japanese for improvement) event through a two-week sprint focused on identifying problems and fostering innovation throughout the business. ActionableAgile® Analytics has provided supporting data used during this period and daily throughout team level Kaizen. Results by the numbers Having implemented ActionableAgile® Analytics some years ago we took a look back at how KFC UK&I has progressed on their journey over the last 2-3 years. Let’s look into how some numbers are around their Product Value Stream goals. Has KFC UK&I been able to cut down on down time while being more efficient, predictable and deliver more? Overall Average Flow Efficiency : This is the time work is actively being worked on, as opposed to waiting or being idle. 2021 : 69.5% 2024 : 77.6% (+7.95%) Overall Cycle Time:  Cycle time is a key performance metric, reflecting how quickly work moves through the system. Shorter cycle times indicate efficiency in delivering work. 2021 : 9.3 days   2024 : 6.3 days (-3 days) What assumptions can we make from this? The increase in Flow Efficiency (+7.95%) suggests that KFC UK&I has significantly reduced idle time in their product value stream, indicating an improvement in how quickly work is prioritised and completed.  Furthermore, the reduction in Cycle Time by 3 days reflects that they are not only working faster but also have become more efficient at delivering value to their customers. These metrics strongly imply that KFC UK&I has optimized their process flows, minimized bottlenecks, and improved predictability, positioning themselves for sustainable, scalable delivery. Summary of Outcomes Automated data analysis, reducing manual errors and administrative burden. A standardized approach to tracking and analyzing metrics, ensuring consistency and reliability. AKA - a data source they can trust. Common data and language that teams can bring to regular Kaizen periods. Implementation of automation to identify and address aging work in progress, signaling and enforcing the cleaning of the backlog. What does the future look like for KFC UK&I? Finding their flow Having started with Scrum, Scrumban, and Kanban at the core of their agility, KFC UK&I has transitioned into a product-centered style of working, leading the teams to lean methods and applications to support flow and the associated flow metrics to help tell the tale. To support this transition, KFC UK&I has also begun using Jira Product Discovery alongside ActionableAgile® Analytics because these tools offer flexibility for strategic initiatives and prioritisation. " Over the last two to three years, we have been on a journey of stepping it up a gear in terms of driving and moving away from projects, and stepping into a product-oriented structure.  We have focused on forming value streams, and with this, a greater view of how we find flow in our product teams and overall alignment, to deliver value to our customers. "

About BNP Paribas Bank Polska In Poland, BNP Paribas Bank Polska S.A. provides services to retail customers and other segments, including Wealth Management, microbusinesses, SMEs, and corporate banking.  As part of the BNP Paribas group, a prominent European bank with a global presence , BNP Paribas Bank Polska offers responsible and innovative financial solutions that help their customers change their world and support the Polish economy.  Damian Rybiński and his role at BNP Paribas Bank Polska As an Agile Coach at BNP Paribas Polska, Damian plays a pivotal role in supporting agile transformation goals. His responsibilities include working with Tribe Leaders, coaching and mentoring Scrum Masters, and ensuring overall effectiveness, efficiency, and predictability within the tribes.  "It's a wide role in our organization. In a nutshell, as an Agile Coach, I support tribes by being a lean-agile leader, coach, mentor, and doer—depending on the situation." Background BNP Paribas Bank Polska has been using ActionableAgile® Analytics for Jira for over a year now. 55 Degrees is excited to build a long-term relationship with BNP Paribas Bank Polska as they continue their Agile Transformation.  The Situation Generally speaking, being Agile at Scale  is an incredibly hard feat to pull off. With over 8000 employees in Poland and nearly 4.2 million customers, BNP Paribas Bank Polska faces the monumental challenge of implementing agile practices across a vast and diverse organization. The complexity of the banking sector added another layer of difficulty, making it essential to find solutions that could simplify processes while maintaining high standards of quality and predictability. BNP Paribas Bank Polska was motivated to move away from the limitations of out of the box gadgets and filters within JIRA and Confluence, which they found to be cumbersome and inefficient. Instead, BNP Paribas Bank Polska sought a solution that seamlessly integrated with JIRA and offered a comprehensive visualization of flow metrics and data that could enhance decision-making and operational efficiency. Limited predictability and metrics BNP Paribas Bank Polska faced challenges in accurately tracking metrics and achieving predictability. Their previous reliance on native JIRA features and Excel for flow metrics visualization didn’t provide the insights they were looking for, despite the extra effort required to use them. The lack of a seamless and intuitive tool for connecting and visualizing data meant that the organization struggled to build reliable forecasts. It was nearly impossible to make the informed, data-driven decisions required to manage project timelines and expectations effectively.  "We knew that if we wanted to build predictability, we had to take care of flow metrics." The standard process at scale Achieving standard processes at scale was a significant challenge for BNP Paribas Bank Polska. The organization struggled to establish a straightforward connection with Jira to visualize data metrics. This led to them prioritizing “ease of use” as one of the key criteria when assessing new tools. The complex banking environment further complicates processes' efficient implementation and standardization, making it difficult to ensure consistent and effective practices across all teams. For instance, different regulatory requirements across regions, varying legacy systems, and the high volume of transactions all contribute to the complexity. The Solution ActionableAgile® Analytics for Jira BNP Paribas Bank Polska considered several alternative solutions but ultimately chose ActionableAgile® Analytics for its ease of implementation, advanced flow metrics, and customer support around the tool. Recognizing that a successful rollout of the ActionableAgile® Analytics was of utmost importance, the BNP team held multiple sessions with 55 Degrees while assessing the tool. To prepare, 55 Degrees conducted introductory training courses with the Scrum Masters, after which BNP held internal training sessions for their leadership.   BNP Paribas Bank Polska attributes their success not only to choosing the right solution, but also to their thorough preparation. This is evident in the rapid and widespread adoption of their practices by over 150 squads across the company. Catalyzing change across 150 squads Implementing ActionableAgile® Analytics across 150 diverse squads has been a transformative force at BNP Paribas Bank Polska. The tool has addressed the need for ease and scalability in a challenging banking environment by simplifying complex processes and providing straightforward metrics visualization. The comprehensive training sessions for Scrum Masters and other leaders ensured effective adoption, which was crucial given the complexity and scale of operations. This facilitated a unified approach to managing flow metrics, making spreading these practices easier across all teams.  With the value of ActionableAgile® Analytics proved internally among the initially trained squads, BNP felt confident in rolling the tool out to approximately 150 existing squads across the company in 2023. "In agile transformation, Agile Coaches and Scrum Masters often do things that the business doesn't see. Having the data to demonstrate the benefits makes it much easier to collaborate." Common language around metrics ( It IS possible! ) BNP Paribas Bank Polska is deep into its third year of Agile transformation, and the integration of ActionableAgile® Analytics has played a pivotal role in establishing a common language around flow metrics. Before the implementation, many people within the organization had never heard of flow metrics.  Establishing a shared language and cultivating a unified mindset has been pivotal for successful implementation. Damian highlighted that Scrum Masters now use flow metrics during events and meetings, enabling diverse teams to benefit from a standardized approach, regardless of their specific frameworks or methods. Scrum Masters can fully leverage the tool while addressing any blockers or impediments that arise inside their tribes. "The actions of standardizing processes and implementing ActionableAgile® Analytics to predictability have been crucial factors in our success." Happy Business Leaders In today's financial climate, demonstrating the business value of third-party tools to leaders is crucial. At BNP Paribas Bank Polska, showing business leaders the value of ActionableAgile® Analytics has been quite effective. Damian: "We showed the relationship between reducing Work In Progress and shortening Cycle Time or between reducing Work In Progress and increasing Throughput—the number of items we delivered. This allowed business leaders to see these correlations clearly. And since they see the benefits and the real data, they are more eager to work with us to make it even better. It's important for them to see the real data and benefits."  Real data is displayed to leadership during strategic events. This image notes the correlation between reducing Work in Progress and reducing Cycle Time. Real data is displayed to leadership during strategic events. This image shows how the team asses release plans based on Monte Carlo Simulations. Predictable Predictability The implementation of ActionableAgile® Analytics has significantly enhanced predictability at BNP Paribas Bank Polska.  By leveraging Monte Carlo simulations and metrics such as Cycle Time and Throughput, teams can now provide accurate forecasts and answer the critical question, "When will it be done?" This level of predictability is essential for planning effectively and for meeting stakeholder expectations.  Additionally, The tool has enabled a common approach to monitoring work progress and delivery dates, making it a valuable asset for ensuring timely and reliable outcomes. Simplified complex processes for over 150 teams, making metrics easier to understand and improving scalability. Successfully implemented unified flow metrics management along with a common language for flow metrics. Strengthened collaboration with business leaders by showing clear benefits and real data, gaining their support for agile projects. Improved predictability with accurate forecasting and timely delivery using metrics and simulations, meeting stakeholder expectations. What does the future look like for BNP Paribas Bank Polska? Continuing the standardization of metrics - step-by-step BNP Paribas Bank Polska plans to continue standardizing the Cycle Time and Work Item Age metrics across the organization to further enhance predictability and efficiency. This ongoing effort involves gradually implementing additional ActionableAgile® Analytics metrics and ensuring that all squads are aligned in their use.  The bank recognizes that achieving high levels of consistency and quality in its processes is crucial for maintaining its competitive edge in the complex banking sector. Damian: “ We believe these follow-ups are crucial when it comes to standardizing the tool. You have to have a plan because it's impossible to implement everything at once .” Cultivating agile excellence 🥚 Maintaining an agile mindset is a key internal objective driven by the need to enhance predictability, quality, and process efficiency.  Thus, internal chapters within BNP Paribas Bank Polska, the Agile Excellence Chapter and Efficiency Excellence Chapter, have established a dedicated ‘ Flow Metrics Circle   🥚’ ( informally known as EGG internally ) to support the standardization of flow metrics.  Damian: “ We need to build predictability. We need to take care of our quality and we need to shorten our feedback cycles in the most innovative and complex areas. We need to have better processes that are not only faster, but also better in terms of quality and more accurate when it comes to market’s requirements ."

About Spektrix Spektrix is a complete solution for ticketing, marketing, fundraising, and CRM, designed specifically for the performing arts and events industry. With world-class technology and support, Spektrix helps 750+ organisations across the UK, Ireland, US, and Canada to grow their revenue and deepen customer relationships. Powerful, intuitive software, at-a-glance insights, frequent and seamless upgrades, training, support, and strategic consultation with experienced professionals come at no additional cost - making Spektrix the fastest-growing solution for arts organisations today.  Introducing Rita Goodbody and her role within Spektrix Rita joined Spektrix in 2022 as an Agile Delivery Manager during a period of significant growth for the company. When she began, Spektrix had just three engineering teams; today, it boasts eight. Her role is dynamic, with no two days alike, but her overarching focus is on delivering value to end users and customers. Rita’s responsibilities span across two teams, including one focused on architectural and technical long-term vision. She also collaborates regularly with a group of delivery managers, exchanging insights on improving delivery processes and supporting team efficiency. Central to her work is enabling the flow of work, fostering continuous improvement, and providing clarity to stakeholders about delivery timelines. Spektrix utilizes Kanban and Lean practices, emphasizing continuous forecasting to maintain accountability and transparent communication. Tools like Jira and Confluence are integral to their workflow, allowing the team to manage work seamlessly and link delivery metrics with strategic goals. This structure ensures that all stakeholders have a clear view of how individual efforts contribute to larger company objectives. For Rita, the role of an Agile Delivery Manager is about more than just achieving goals—it’s about empowering teams, enabling flow, and making work happen. Background Spektrix began leveraging ActionableAgile® Analytics in Jira Cloud in mid-2023 as part of their commitment to optimizing delivery processes and enabling their teams to deliver value more effectively. This tool has become a cornerstone of their workflow, helping them align their growing teams with strategic goals and maintain transparency across the organization. The Situation Teams within Spektrix were structured similarly, typically comprising six to nine people with roles including engineers, product owners, delivery managers, tech leads and engineering managers. Delivery teams worked with different focuses—some tackling long-term architectural initiatives, others concentrating on short-term features. This diversity of efforts demanded clear alignment and a reliable way to track progress. Much of the work at Spektrix relied on manual processes, particularly when it came to tracking, forecasting, and providing updates to stakeholders. Delivery managers like Rita spent significant time preparing data manually. "We used to spend hours doing spreadsheets,” she explained.  This manual approach involved extracting data from Jira and inputting it into spreadsheets for forecasting and reporting. While effective for a smaller team size, the process became a bottleneck as the number of teams grew. Simple tasks like answering stakeholder questions often required substantial time.   Growing Pains: Scaling Teams and Processes As the teams expanded, the inefficiencies of manual processes became increasingly apparent. Delivery managers found themselves struggling to provide consistent updates, and the manual workflows made it difficult to keep pace with the demands of a growing organization.  Each Delivery Manager had 2 teams. Switching context from one team to another took time to get everything loaded and ready for the update. On average the Delivery Managers would spend 2-4 hours getting the data right and being able to update all relevant information to reflect the latest progress. It was clear Spektrix needed a way to streamline its processes and reduce the reliance on time-consuming methods that no longer served its scale. Rita reflected on the transition: “We were spending so much time doing manual spreadsheets, updating data, and preparing forecasts. It was taking too long, and as we grew, it was clear something needed to change.’’ Challenges of Growing Complexity The diversity of Spektrix’s teams and their varying focuses further complicated efforts to maintain alignment. Without a unified approach to tracking and forecasting, teams and stakeholders often worked with incomplete or inconsistent information. Rita described the need for better visibility and alignment: “Each team works slightly differently, but we all needed to look at the same information to stay on track and ensure we were delivering value.” This lack of cohesion impacted both day-to-day operations and longer-term planning, underscoring the need for a scalable solution to manage the growing complexity. Implementing ActionableAgile® Analytics - What happened after? The rollout of ActionableAgile® Analytics at Spektrix was a gradual but transformative process, beginning with the delivery managers and expanding across teams. The initial goal was to replace the manual, spreadsheet-driven workflows that consumed significant time and effort.  To secure approval for the business case, Rita utilized the tool during the free trial period to demonstrate its value. She emphasized that the time savings it provided far outweighed the cost of the tool. Additionally, she highlighted how the team could self-serve and access quick updates at a team level, making the decision to invest in the tool an easy choice. First the teams wanted to make sure they had the same information and results as the manual data. We've always used flow metrics, core to Kanban, but ActionableAgile® Analytics allowed us to use it  more transparently by everyone in engineering rather than just delivery managers with complex and brittle spreadsheets. ActionableAgile® Analytics gives us more ways to examine teams delivery from different angles with more dynamic and automated views. Starting with the Delivery Managers Rita described how the implementation began with delivery managers exploring the tool together. “We just got together as delivery managers and said, ‘Okay, let’s set this up in our teams. We compared how things worked, ran demos for each other, and started spreading it slowly,” she explained. Initially, delivery managers were the primary users, testing the tool and identifying how best to introduce it to their teams. Teams within Spektrix were structured similarly, typically comprising six to nine people with roles including engineers, product owners, delivery managers, and tech leads. This provided a consistent framework for implementing ActionableAgile® Analytics while tailoring its use to the needs of individual teams. Building Engagement Across Teams The next step was to share the tool with team leads and engineers, demonstrating how it could help with planning and forecasting. According to Rita, the response was overwhelmingly positive. “The leads were really engaged. They were like, ‘Wow, this is brilliant—we can get information so quickly.’” The adoption process varied across teams. Some quickly embraced flow metrics like work item age and cycle time, incorporating them into daily stand-ups and using them to identify bottlenecks. Others preferred a focus on long-term metrics, analyzing historical data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement. In one of Rita’s teams, the use of flow metrics sparked proactive collaboration. “They were like, ‘Can you call us out when something hits three or four days? We do forget to look at it.’ So I’d flag aging items, and that really helped us reduce cycle times. When you look at the historical data, we went from high cycle times all the way down. That momentum motivated the team,” she shared. Unlocking Time and Focus For delivery managers at Spektrix, implementing ActionableAgile® Analytics was a game-changer, particularly in terms of saving time. Before, hours were spent manually updating spreadsheets to track and forecast delivery timelines. “We realized we were saving so much time,” Rita explained. “Now, instead of spending Monday mornings buried in Excel, we can use that time for more valuable work.” The shift not only freed up delivery managers but also allowed teams to focus on improving their workflows. Rita highlighted how this shift built momentum. “We started sharing metrics like cycle time with the teams, and over time, they saw real improvements. When you look at the historical data, we went from high cycle times all the way down. That momentum motivated the team to keep improving.” In one of the teams, we went from 16-18 days under 85% confidence level to 6-8 days under 85% confidence in less than 3 months time . See below snapshot.  Delivering a Critical Feature—On Time One standout moment came in 2023, when Spektrix faced a tight deadline for an important feature release. Rita and her team were able to quickly identify that the current setup wouldn’t allow them to meet the deadline. “Using the tool, we forecasted that we wouldn’t make it without additional support. We brought in help from other teams and managed to deliver on time,” Rita said. The feature was delivered as planned, sparking applause from across the company. “Everyone was happy and clapping,” she recalled. A Shift in Culture The adoption of ActionableAgile® Analytics sparked a cultural shift at Spektrix. Delivery managers moved from being gatekeepers of data to enablers of transparency and flow. Teams grew more independent, and shared metrics became a common language. “We started sharing screenshots and updates regularly, whether in chats or meetings. Teams could see their progress, and it created this momentum,” Rita said. “The real magic is when people pull the information themselves. Instead of us pushing it onto them, they’re asking questions, getting curious, and taking action.”  Real Cycle Time data from one of the teams as at December 2022 - Prior to using ActionableAgile® Analytics Real Cycle Time data from the same team as at December 2023 - 8 months following the installation of ActionableAgile® Analytics Above, we can see the same team's Cycle Time exactly a year apart. By analyzing the data, we can draw the following conclusions: Consistent Delivery in 2023 Compared to 2022 The 2023 chart shows more clustering of cycle times around lower percentile bands (e.g., 50% and 70%) compared to 2022. This indicates improved consistency in delivery times, enabling stakeholders to better predict when work will be completed. Faster Cycle Times in 2023 Median cycle times (represented near the 50% band) in 2023 appear lower than in 2022. This suggests that the team improved their overall efficiency, reducing the time it takes to deliver items from start to finish. Fewer Outliers in 2023 In 2022, there are more visible dots above the higher percentile bands (e.g., 95%), reflecting more frequent long-running work items. By 2023, the team reduced the number of outliers, demonstrating their success in addressing bottlenecks and managing complex tasks more effectively. Increased Work Volume in 2023 While Maintaining or Improving Cycle Time The 2023 chart shows a larger number of data points (and potentially larger dots) compared to 2022, suggesting the team handled a greater volume of work. Despite this increased workload, the team maintained or improved their cycle times, showcasing scalability and adaptability.  Summary of Outcomes Significant Time Savings allowing for work on more valuable projects Improved Cycle Times On-Time Delivery for Critical Features Increased Team Accountability Enhanced Stakeholder Confidence What Does the Future Look Like for Spektrix? Establishing Transparency and Collaboration Across Teams Looking forward, Spektrix envisions a future where transparency and flow metrics are integrated not just at the team level but across the entire organization. Rita highlighted a growing need for cross-team visibility, especially as dependencies and collaborative goals become more prevalent. “We’d love to see a dashboard that brings together data from multiple teams in one place,” Rita said. “Right now, if one team’s work blocks another, we have to gather data manually from different delivery managers. It would be amazing to see trends across teams at a glance to quickly understand where dependencies or bottlenecks are happening.” This vision aligns with Spektrix’s efforts to scale their use of tools like Jira and ActionableAgile® Analytics beyond engineering teams to other areas.  As Spektrix explores future possibilities, the balance between automation and meaningful conversations remains critical. While some team members have suggested features like AI-driven insights to identify trends and optimize throughput automatically, Rita reflected on the value of keeping discussions at the forefront. “I love going into the data, looking at the past two weeks, and prompting the team with questions,” she explained. “Why did this happen? Was this good or bad? That conversation piece is so valuable. If we rely too much on automation, we might lose that depth of understanding.” Championing Flow Across the Organization Spektrix plans to champion the adoption of flow metrics and tools like ActionableAgile® Analytics across the company, embedding these practices into all teams and processes.  Rita believes this will help achieve broader alignment with company goals. “At some point, we’ll want to centralize how we use tools across the company, ensuring everyone benefits from the same efficiencies and insights,” she shared. By continuing to foster collaboration, refining their use of flow metrics, and expanding tool adoption, Spektrix is paving the way for a future where agility and transparency drive success at every level.

At 55 Degrees, we’re always looking for new ways to enhance your workflow and simplify how you interact with your data. That’s why we’re excited to announce that the beta version of Saved Data Sets for ActionableAgile® Analytics is coming soon to Azure DevOps! This upcoming feature will empower you to save and revisit your preferred data configurations instantly, transforming how you work with data. Here's a sneak peek at what inspired its creation, the problems it addresses, and the benefits you can expect once it’s live. Why Did We Create the Saved Data Sets feature? We noticed a pattern among our users: Many of you frequently return to the same configurations, spending valuable time setting them up repeatedly. With Saved Data Sets, you can save your preferred configurations and focus on what truly matters—analyzing data and making data-driven decisions. This feature is designed with you in mind. Eliminating repetitive tasks streamlines your workflow, enhances efficiency, and ensures a smoother, more satisfying experience. With Saved Data Sets, you’ll work smarter, boost productivity, and rely on a tool that truly supports your daily tasks. What Problems Will Saved Data Sets Solve? When it launches, Saved Data Sets will tackle some of the biggest challenges our users face: Time Efficiency:  Users often spend significant time reconfiguring data sets to match their previous setups. By enabling the saving of custom configurations, we eliminate repetitive tasks, allowing users to load their preferred settings instantly. Consistency:  For users who rely on specific configurations for reporting or analysis, the risk of human error during manual setup can lead to inconsistencies. Saved Data Sets ensure that users can retrieve their exact configurations, enhancing accuracy and reliability in their work. User Experience:  Navigating through complex data configurations can be overwhelming. This feature simplifies the process, making it more intuitive and user-friendly, which is especially beneficial for new users or those working on multiple projects. Enhanced Focus:  By reducing the time spent on setup, users can dedicate more attention to analyzing data and deriving insights, ultimately improving productivity and decision-making. The Benefits of Saved Data Sets Here’s what you can look forward to when Saved Data Sets become available: Users can anticipate several significant benefits from the Saved Data Sets feature: Time Savings:  You can quickly load your previously saved configurations, eliminating the need to spend time redoing the setups for recurring tasks. Improved Accuracy:  By ensuring consistency in configurations, you minimize the risk of errors that can occur during manual setups, leading to more reliable results. Enhanced Productivity:  With less time spent on configuration, you can focus more on data analysis and strategic decision-making, maximizing your overall productivity. User-Friendly Experience:  The feature's intuitive design simplifies data management, making it accessible for users of all skill levels, including those who may be new to the app. Customization Flexibility:  You can easily save and switch between different configurations, allowing you to tailor your experience to meet specific project needs or preferences. What’s Next? Saved Data Sets is just the beginning. This feature lays the foundation for even more exciting updates, including the ability to share configurations with your team directly within Azure DevOps. Collaboration and efficiency are about to reach new heights! Stay Tuned The wait won’t be long—Saved Data Sets is coming soon to ActionableAgile® Analytics for Azure DevOps. Get ready to streamline your workflow, save time, and work smarter than ever before. Keep an eye out for more updates, and let us know what features you’d love to see next in our Roadmap . We can’t wait to hear how Saved Data Sets transforms the way you work!

Planning across multiple teams can be a challenge. Different teams work in different ways, and their data reflects that. Yet, when stakeholders need a view of the bigger picture, combining everything into one massive forecast is tempting. Unfortunately, this often leads to inaccurate predictions and poor decision-making. That’s why we’re excited to introduce Forecast Portfolios , a new feature in Portfolio Forecaster  that provides a smarter way to align teams and plan across groups. What Are Forecast Portfolios? Forecast Portfolios allow you to view multiple team forecasts together in one unified, read-only portfolio. Instead of merging data into a single forecast—where differences in team practices and workflows can create errors—Forecast Portfolios respect the unique characteristics of each team’s forecast. Users can easily create a portfolio by selecting group forecasts and combining them into a shared view. These portfolios can also be filtered to focus on the most relevant work, and they can be shared with stakeholders for better visibility and collaboration. Why It’s a Game-Changer Forecast Portfolios  solve a critical problem: how to provide cross-team visibility without sacrificing accuracy. Here’s what makes it stand out: Accuracy Without Compromise:  Each team’s forecast remains intact, ensuring reliable insights for better decision-making. Enhanced Visibility:  Stakeholders can see the full picture across teams in one place. Time-Saving Simplicity:  Portfolios are quick to set up and easy to share, making cross-team planning seamless. Customizable Views:  Filters allow users to focus on the data that matters most to them. Who Benefits from Forecast Portfolios? Directors and Program Managers:  Easily align resources and strategies across teams. C-Level Executives:  Gain high-level visibility into progress and performance. Team Leads:  Share their group’s contributions transparently while maintaining the integrity of their data. Forecast Portfolios: Align Smarter, Plan Better If you’ve been struggling to align forecasts across teams without losing accuracy, Forecast Portfolios is here to help. By providing clarity, collaboration, and confidence in your forecasting, it’s the tool you need to navigate complexity and plan for success. Forecast Portfolios is on its way and will soon be available in Beta on Portfolio Forecaster. Get ready to explore this exciting feature to enhance your planning and decision-making. Stay tuned-more details coming soon!

In today’s fast-paced, ever-changing business world, the ability to adapt and plan for the unexpected is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Teams constantly navigate shifting priorities, limited resources, and unpredictable demands. Organizations must think beyond static forecasts and embrace a more dynamic, flexible approach to succeed. Building on the foundation of probabilistic forecasting, Scenario Planning  in Portfolio Forecaster takes dynamic forecasting to the next level. Empowering teams to explore the “what-ifs” of their workflows provides an invaluable tool for risk planning and decision-making in an ever-uncertain environment. This capability revolutionizes forecasting, enabling smarter decision-making, greater agility, and improved outcomes. Here’s why Scenario Planning is a game changer—and how it transforms your experience with Portfolio Forecaster. What is Scenario Planning in Portfolio Forecaster? Scenario Planning within Portfolio Forecaster  allows teams to toggle on potential future scenarios and test the impact of changes—before they happen. By simulating various "what-if" scenarios, teams can answer critical questions like: What if we reduce the number of items we’re working on simultaneously? What happens to our timelines if priorities shift? How would working ahead on future tasks impact our forecast? When can we expect to complete upcoming items if we maintain our current pace? All of this is seamlessly integrated into Portfolio Forecaster , giving users the tools they need to prepare for the unexpected directly within their forecasting workflow. Why Scenario Planning in Portfolio Forecaster is a Game-Changer 1. Anticipate Outcomes with Confidence With Scenario Planning in Portfolio Forecaster, you can explore multiple outcomes, anticipate risks, and proactively adapt your plans to meet changing conditions. 2. Make Data-Driven Decisions Every decision involves trade-offs, and Portfolio Forecaster clearly outlines those trade-offs. Whether adjusting work-in-progress limits, shifting priorities, or changing workflows, Scenario Planning helps you understand the impact of your choices, enabling smarter and more strategic decisions. 3. Adapt to Change with Agility Change is inevitable—whether it’s a new customer demand, an unexpected delay, or a strategic pivot. Scenario Planning helps teams prepare for these changes before they occur. With Portfolio Forecaster, you can model the effects of changes on timelines and outcomes, empowering teams to respond with agility and confidence. 4. Optimize Resources and Throughput Balancing speed, quality, and resource allocation is a challenge for any team. Scenario Planning within Portfolio Forecaster allows you to experiment with changes, such as reducing the number of concurrent tasks or reordering priorities, to optimize efficiency and avoid bottlenecks or burnout. 5. Foster Collaboration and Transparency Portfolio Forecaster isn’t just for project managers—it’s a tool for aligning entire teams. With Scenario Planning, stakeholders gain a clear, shared view of potential outcomes. This transparency fosters collaboration and ensures that everyone is aligned, reducing misunderstandings and building trust. How Portfolio Forecaster Stands Out Portfolio Forecaster  is designed to make forecasting and planning both intuitive and powerful. The addition of Scenario Planning elevates its value by enabling teams to visualize and plan for multiple potential futures. Whether you’re managing complex projects, aligning cross-functional teams, or trying to optimize workflows, Portfolio Forecaster gives you the insights and tools to stay ahead of uncertainty. Key benefits of Scenario Planning in Portfolio Forecaster include: Ease of use:  Toggle between actual forecasts and simulated scenarios without disruption. Seamless integration:  Leverage Scenario Planning directly within your existing forecasting workflow. Actionable insights:  Translate “what-if” scenarios into concrete, informed decisions. The Bigger Picture: Why It Matters At its core, Scenario Planning in Portfolio Forecaster is about empowerment. It empowers teams to: Stay ahead of uncertainty  by exploring possibilities. Make informed decisions  that drive better results. Align around shared goals  with clear, data-backed insights. In an era where adaptability is crucial, Scenario Planning is more than a feature—it’s a strategic advantage. It helps organizations move from reactive to proactive, from static to dynamic, and from uncertainty to confidence. Explore the Future with Portfolio Forecaster If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “What if…?” Portfolio Forecaster’s Scenario Planning feature is the answer. Providing a forward-thinking approach to forecasting enables smarter workflows, faster decision-making, and better outcomes. The future isn’t static—why should your planning be? Start your free Portfolio Forecaster trial today to navigate complexity with clarity and thrive in an unpredictable world.  Scenario Planning is launching soon in Beta! Stay tuned and be among the first to try it out. Get ready to explore new possibilities and make smarter, data-driven decisions with Portfolio Forecaster.

I should also say at the outset, that while I do write a lot about predictability, I’m terrible at prognostication without data, which means that what I have below is more of a wish list rather than a bold statement about what will happen in 2025. Also, so you know, this is not going to be some crass or trite blog post about how AI is going to change everything about Agile.  Yes, AI will have some impact, but I’d be willing to bet that impact (whatever it is) will not be in any area that is widely being talked about now. Without any further adieu, here goes: 1.       A continued shift away from prescriptive Agile frameworks.  With all due respect to practitioners of Scrum, Safe, etc., those frameworks have had their day, and unfortunately, our industry is no better off (and, in many cases, worse off) than when they first came into prominence.  My expectation is that companies continue to drop their investment in those failed Agile experiments and continue to shift toward understanding what drives efficiency, effectiveness, and predictability from first principles.  Yes, I am biased here.  And yes, I’ve said this before.  But I believe 2024 was a sea change in this regard, and I don’t see that trend reversing any time soon.  Plausibility :  Pretty good. 2.       Can we please stop talking about story points?  It is 2025, ffs.  Everybody and their brother’s neighbor’s dog know that story points don’t work, yet they still seem to be pervasive.  Even the person who created story points says don’t use them but somehow, I am still encountering them on a monthly basis.  Outside of fixed length timeboxes (see # 1), I believe story points are the single biggest factor that has held Agile back from achieving its full potential.  I know, I know, story points are not “Agile,” but pick a team at random that is doing “Agile,” and chances are they are using story points--in one form or another.  When the person who was responsible for introducing story points has repeatedly said not to use them, then I think it is time that we should heed his advice.  Plausibility :  Nil. 3.       Can Agile please finally fill its biggest hole? That is, it proves that adopting Agile practices actually improves either an organization's top line or bottom line or both.  The problem is that as long as we continue to follow the prescriptive frameworks of # 1, this will be hard to demonstrate.  Think about how many billions of dollars have been spent on Agile in the past twenty-ish years. Is there any proof that this investment has provided any real financial benefit?  Anecdotally, I would say it has not—which is the fundamental reason why Agile finds itself in the doldrums.  As long as Agile continues to rely on financially inefficient strategies like (as mentioned above) fixed length timeboxes, prescriptive roles, and story points (to name a few), then for all intents and purposes, Agile will continue its slow march toward death.  What we need to do is be able to prove to CFOs, that any investment in legitimate Agile practices will contribute to a company's overall financial health.  To date (with minimal exceptions), this has never been done.  Therefore, from a CFO’s perspective, they are thinking, “If the only way I can do this is to do it badly, then I’ll do it badly as cheaply as possible”.  Translation: no Agile.  I personally am hoping to help move the needle on this, but until we do, I see no hope for Agile. Plausibility :  Minimal. Maybe you were expecting something a bit more cheery and upbeat.  I’m sorry I couldn’t deliver on that.  Having said all of this, however, I still firmly believe that organizations that truly “get” Lean-Agile practices (not the faux ones provided by prescriptive frameworks) will survive, and the organizations that don’t won’t.  That will probably take longer than 2025 to play out.  But my guess is this is where it starts. On that note, let’s work together to make Agile better for everyone.  All the best to all of you in this year and beyond!

55 Degrees is proud to announce the successful renewal of our SOC 2 compliance, reaffirming our commitment to maintaining the highest standards in data security and customer trust. This milestone underscores our dedication to safeguarding customer data by adhering to rigorous security protocols and continuously enhancing our security and compliance program. As a renewed achievement—not our first SOC 2 audit—this accomplishment reflects our ongoing efforts to meet and exceed industry standards, ensuring our customers’ data is handled with the utmost care and integrity. What is SOC 2, and why is it important? SOC 2, or Service Organization Controls 2, is a framework that is governed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). With a SOC 2 audit, an independent service auditor will review an organization’s policies, procedures, and evidence to determine if their controls are designed and operating effectively. A SOC 2 report communicates a company’s commitment to data security and the protection of customer information.   Improving your security posture  SOC 2 compliance exemplifies an organization’s commitment to customer trust and is a major milestone toward improving its overall security posture. With increasing cybersecurity threats and data breaches, it is paramount that organizations prioritize information security and the protection of their systems and data. By undergoing a SOC 2 audit, our controls and processes were validated by a third party who attests to the functioning of the controls relevant to our application.  Why did we pursue SOC 2 now? SOC 2 compliance is integral in proving to customers, stakeholders, and interested parties that our organization values their trust and has effectively implemented security controls. At our company’s stage, we realized that it was an ideal time to pursue this as it is important to protect data and mitigate potential security risks early and on an ongoing basis.  55 Degrees’s journey to SOC 2 compliance Compliance Partners   The task would have seemed insurmountable without the right compliance partners to guide us on our journey. Some key partners were involved in our SOC 2 compliance journey. Vanta  We partnered with Vanta , the leader in the Trust Management space, to help us automate the collection of our audit evidence. Vanta provides us with the strongest security foundation to protect our customer data. Advantage Partners  Our audit firm, Advantage Partners , was extremely helpful in creating a seamless audit experience. With their guidance and support, we were able to achieve SOC 2 compliance in a swift, efficient manner.  Process  While SOC 2 can be a big undertaking, our compliance partners streamlined the process. We leveraged Vanta to integrate our key systems and guide us in implementing policies and procedures to quickly become audit-ready. Vanta gave us the direction we needed to pursue our compliance journey.  Advantage Partners then confirmed our audit readiness, and we kicked off our Type II audit. Advantage evaluated the controls we have in place for the audit and opined on their state.  Advantage Partners drafted and issued our report shortly after our audit window ended.  Timeline  One key takeaway is that improving our security posture and achieving compliance is monumental. This can be made easier with the right compliance partners, but it will take dedicated focus and time from your organization. The readiness period can take the most time, but we were able to prioritize compliance to get the audit ready in weeks rather than months.  We also found it important to review the audit timeline with Advantage Partners, set an ideal audit date, and then work backward to be ready in time. However, now that controls are implemented and security is a priority for our team, subsequent SOC 2 audits will be even more seamless.  Lessons we learned  Start the process early.   It is easier to implement policies earlier than later, and doing so as early as possible helps you build a more secure organization. Building secure procedures and infrastructure is key to a successful security program. Focus on improving security posture, not checking boxes. Compliance is not one size fits all. Ensure you are spending time understanding the frameworks you’re working towards so you can know how to best comply for your organization. Your entire organization will be involved in improving security and adhering to procedures. Help them to understand how they impact your ability to stay compliant! Security is a continuous project that should be prioritized in an organization. Don’t snooze your alerts - aim to stay at 100% readiness in Vanta all the time! The right partners and tools are key.  Finding a compliance management tool like Vanta to guide you through the process makes it much easier to know what to do and do it quickly. Not only does it make it easier to get started, but it makes it (nearly) painless to maintain your audit readiness! Leveling up our licenses in tools like Snyk Enterprise has really alleviated the pain of managing certain aspects of our compliance and providing the necessary proof.  Finally, partnering with an audit firm dedicated to your success makes the process much less scary! Make sure you find a firm that you feel comfortable with, and that is comfortable in your compliance management system. You can read more about our trust stance at https://55degrees.se/trust . If you would like to request access to our SOC 2 report or see information about the controls currently in place and other publicly available documents, you can visit our Vanta Trust Center at https://trust.55degrees.se . If you have any other questions, please contact us !

If you thought Portfolio Forecaster 1.0 was good, buckle up—Portfolio Forecaster 2.0 is ready to take your forecasting experience to a whole new level. Packed with new features and a ton of flexibility, it’s designed to help you dive deeper, forecast more accurately, and ensure everyone’s on the same page. What Makes Portfolio Forecaster 2.0 a Game-Changer? Goodbye, Limitations: Forecast Any Issue Type Gone are the days when you could only forecast by epics and versions. With 2.0, you can now create forecasts using any issue type, meaning you can track and predict across all your tasks and work items. This newfound flexibility lets teams get a complete, customized picture of every project. Now, you’re not just scratching the surface—you’re seeing every aspect of your work, from the big-picture initiatives down to those essential, smaller tasks. Enhanced Group Forecasts for Real Collaboration Group forecasts were always a cornerstone of Portfolio Forecaster, but in 2.0, they’re sharper and more team-focused than ever. With enhanced group forecasts, you can now capture the full dynamic of collaboration within your team, aligning forecasts more closely with how your people actually work together. This means you get a crystal-clear view of each team’s contributions to a project, empowering better decision-making and transparency. All-New Configuration Options for Customization Freedom Every team operates differently, and Portfolio Forecaster 2.0 respects that with its flexible configuration settings. Now, with features like JQL filters and a variety of issue link types, you can customize each forecast to fit precisely within your workflows. Need to filter down to specific status category? Done! Prefer forecasting using different issue types? No problem! It’s a configuration playground where you decide how detailed or broad each forecast should be, ensuring they mirror exactly how your team functions. Streamlined Sharing and Access Control Transparency and teamwork just got a serious upgrade. With Portfolio Forecaster 2.0, forecasts are no longer confined to just the creator. Now you have complete control over sharing, from who can view a forecast to who can help manage it. This level of access makes it easy to involve others and ensure everyone is aligned with the latest forecast data. Portfolio Forecaster 2.0 transforms your forecasts into a shared tool that fosters collaboration and alignment across the board. Introducing Forecast Portfolios One of the most anticipated features coming to Portfolio Forecaster 2.0 is  Forecast Portfolios . Imagine being able to combine multiple group forecasts into one streamlined view, capturing the progress across projects, programs, or departments—all in a single place. This upcoming feature lets you see the big picture while still preserving the precision of each individual forecast. With Forecast Portfolios, you can monitor your entire project landscape and stay on top of all the moving parts without losing any accuracy. It’s the ultimate way to keep everything organized and in focus, supporting smooth project execution at every level. Forecast Portfolios will be available in our beta release in the second week of November, with additional updates rolling out in stages. The full release is set for January 2025. Fast, Direct Access with Deep Linking Portfolio Forecaster 2.0 makes it easier than ever to jump directly to the information you need. Deep linking allows you to copy a forecast’s URL and share it with team members, giving them one-click access straight to the data. No more digging around or long email chains—just a simple link that brings your team exactly where they need to be. How Portfolio Forecaster 2.0 Enhances Your Forecasting Experience Building on the strengths of Portfolio Forecaster 1.0, Portfolio Forecaster 2.0 brings an exciting new level of depth and precision to your forecasting experience. While the original version was a great start, this update addresses the needs of users managing complex projects with diverse issue types. With enhanced features and functionalities, 2.0 empowers you to make more informed decisions and drive successful outcomes, transforming the way you approach forecasting! New and Improved in Portfolio Forecaster 2.0: Forecast Any Issue Type  – No more limits to epics and versions—now every task, issue, and detail can be accounted for. Enhanced Group Forecasts  – Align your forecasts more closely with team dynamics and collaboration. Flexible Configuration  – Tailor each forecast to your unique workflows with JQL filters, link options, and more. Improved Sharing and Access Management  – Keep everyone on the same page by sharing access and granting admin permissions. Deep Linking  – Get your team where they need to go, instantly. And with  Forecast Portfolios  on the horizon, Portfolio Forecaster 2.0 is primed to bring a whole new level of clarity and coordination to your organization. It’s coming soon—get ready to take your project visibility, precision, and collaboration to the next level with Portfolio Forecaster 2.0!

September has brought exciting developments as we focus on enhancing your experience with ActionableAgile™ Analytics. We’ve listened to your feedback, and we’re thrilled to share the latest features designed to improve your workflow and data management capabilities. Here’s a look at what’s new this September! Save and Access Data Sets Easily We’ve been listening to your feedback and are excited to share the latest updates we’ve been working on to improve your experience with ActionableAgile™ Analytics for Azure DevOps! Launching in Q4, we're excited to release the beta version of the new Saved Data Sets feature. We recognize that many of our users frequently return to specific configurations, often spending valuable time reloading and setting up their preferred data sets. By allowing you to save your customized configurations, we help you streamline your workflow, enabling you to focus on what truly matters—driving insights and making data-driven decisions. You'll have a simple dialog to open or edit your saved data sets, giving you full control and flexibility. What Problems Does the Saved Data Sets Feature Aim to Solve? The Saved Data Sets feature addresses several key challenges faced by our customers: Time Efficiency:  Users often spend significant time reconfiguring data sets to match their previous setups. By allowing the saving of custom configurations, we eliminate repetitive tasks, enabling you to load your preferred settings instantly. Consistency:  For users relying on specific configurations for reporting or analysis, the risk of human error during manual setup can lead to inconsistencies. Saved Data Sets ensure that you can retrieve your exact configurations, enhancing accuracy and reliability in your work. User Experience:  Navigating through complex data configurations can be overwhelming. This feature simplifies the process, making it more intuitive and user-friendly, especially for new users or those managing multiple projects. Enhanced Focus:  By reducing the time spent on setup, users can dedicate more attention to analyzing data and deriving insights, ultimately improving productivity and decision-making. But that’s just the beginning! Shortly after the beta release, we’re adding more improvements based on what you’ve asked for. You’ll be able to mark your favorite data sets and access quick links to recent and favorite data sets directly from the data sets dropdown —making navigation a breeze. Once we've gathered your feedback and fine-tuned the experience, we aim to move out of beta in early January. Our goal is to make it effortless for you to manage and update your data sets in a way that best fits your workflow. We can’t wait for you to try it out! External File Loader Last month, we shared an update on loading external data files, and we’re thrilled to announce that it’s officially live for our Standalone version! After a successful validation period, we’re gearing up to roll it out to all other versions soon, with full deployment expected by the end of the month. Why the Update?  Our previous data loading system often felt restrictive, leading to user frustration with unclear error messages and cumbersome formatting requirements. To resolve these issues, we’ve implemented several key enhancements: Simplified File Formatting:  We’ve integrated direct links to file format requirements within the loader and added a download button for the template—eliminating the need to check the documentation. Smart Column Mapping:  Users can now map file columns to specific types such as ID, Title, or Workflow Stage. While the system is designed to map certain column types, you have the flexibility to override our suggestions. Date Format Detection:  The system now displays the detected date format (e.g., MM/DD vs. DD/MM), allowing you to verify and adjust as needed, resolving a common pain point. Comprehensive File Analysis:  After mapping, we analyze the entire file and identify any cleanup actions needed. You can correct these for future uploads or proceed with loading the file as is. If there are rows with errors, we’ll provide detailed information and allow you to export a list, noting that any problematic rows will be removed if they continue. New Global Date Range Filter This month, we will be rolling out the new global date range filter, which allows you to choose which portion of your data set you want to analyze at any given time. Once set, it will apply to all charts until you change it. You will no longer have to go into the date control of each chart to analyze a smaller time period. Explore Our Product Roadmap Page! Have you explored our  product roadmap page  yet? If not, you’re missing out! It’s your exclusive gateway to all the exciting developments in ActionableAgile™ Analytics. Curious about what features might be next? Our "Under Consideration" section showcases ideas inspired by your feedback. Our "Planned" features highlight what we’re prioritizing based on your input. Stay informed with "In Progress" updates to follow the development of actively worked-on features. Plus, check out the "Released" section to see the latest improvements we’ve rolled out to enhance your experience. Your insights truly matter to us! If you have ideas or features you’d love to see, please share them. By visiting our product roadmap page, you can stay updated on our latest developments and actively contribute to the future of ActionableAgile™ Analytics. Take a moment to explore the roadmap and let your voice be heard—together, we can create something amazing! Thank you for being a valued member of the ActionableAgile™ Analytics community! We look forward to your feedback on these new features.

You would be easily forgiven for answering “Mount Everest” to the title question.  After all, that’s what most of us are taught in school (assuming we were awake during geography class).  But if you have read any of my material over the years, you know that most of what we have been taught is misleading, if not downright wrong. To determine the tallest one, we first have to measure all of the mountains on the planet. And it turns out that measuring the world’s mountains is much more complicated than you might think.  In fact, over the years, there have been several contenders for the crown: In 1792, Mount Chimborazo (Ecuador) was thought to be the tallest Then, in 1808, it was Mount Dhaulagiri (Nepal) Then, in 1847, it was Kangchenjunga (Nepal/India) It wasn’t until 1852 that the peak we now know as Mount Everest was officially named the tallest mountain in the world. Why did it take so long to name a winner?  As you’ve probably guessed, changes in technology, measuring methodology, and even changes to the earth’s crust due to plate tectonics have all contributed to updated rankings over time (as an interesting side note, because of plate tectonics, Mount Nanga Parbat is currently growing faster than Everest and in 241,000 years will be the world’s tallest, ceteris paribus).  But in reality, the hardest thing about measuring a mountain is defining what it is. In other words, when we call something a mountain, we first need to decide where it " starts” and where it " finishes.”  To most of us, spotting where a mountain “peaks” is fairly obvious.  Just look for the one above all of the other ones.  But finding the top is only half of the equation.  It’s deciding where a mountain starts, that is the tricky bit.  For example, Mauna Kea is the highest point in Hawaii—that’s easy to see.  However, more than half of Mauna Kea's mountain is submerged.  Measuring Mauna Kea from its base (underwater) to its summit gives 10,211 meters—which is about 20% taller than Everest. If we only consider mountains with a base on land, then Denali in Alaska is actually “taller” (with a base-to-summit measurement about 1,000 meters more than Everest). So why have all of us been taught that Everest is the tallest?  That’s because when measuring mountains, scientists generally use a “sea level” hack as the starting point for all their calculations.  Why is the sea level a hack?  As you may have guessed, the sea isn’t so level.  The following graphic from the European Space Agency is a brilliant illustration of this point: Due to factors like the earth’s rotation, tides, differences in the strength of gravity at different spots, etc., the sea actually has dramatically different levels around the globe.  Scientists attempt to “smooth out” these differences by calculating an arithmetic mean to use as “sea level.”  That’s right, they use an average.  And as we all know, an average is (generally) a hack.  Therefore, Everest gets its award due to an arbitrary starting point for a calculation that creates a baseline that doesn’t in any meaningful way exist anywhere on Earth. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t seem quite right to me.  Why not pick a more objective starting point to measure from the center of the earth?  If we do that, then our good friend Mount Chimborazo, whom we saw earlier, regains the crown (due to the fact that the planet bulges around the equator). I’ll leave it up to you to decide what you think the tallest mountain is, but the point here is that all measurements require agreement on what started and finished mean.  And you can get radically different answers depending on those agreed points.  Flow metrics, in particular, are not immune to this difficulty.  When they think about predictability, most people think only about the ability to answer the question, “When will it be done?”  But that question ignores half the problem.  How long something will take depends BOTH on when something starts AS WELL AS when something finishes.  Your process could be Everest, Mauna Kea, or Chimborazo, depending on how you look at it. Therefore, take the time to carefully consider what “started” and “finished” mean in your context.   Your customers—and your predictability—will thank you for it. *This post was inspired by and based on the “Be Smart” video series on America’s Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).  If you haven’t checked that series out, do so.  Most videos are available on YouTube.

August has been a busy month for ActionableAgile™ Analytics , with exciting updates and enhancements designed to improve your user experience. From streamlined data loading processes to critical bug fixes and new control features, here's a rundown of what's new this month. Enhanced data file loading experience Starting this week, we’re rolling out a significant upgrade to the process of loading external data files across all versions of ActionableAgile™ Analytics. The improvements address longstanding challenges, ensuring a smoother and more intuitive experience. Why the Update? Our previous data loading system was often restrictive, leading to frustration as users encountered unclear error messages and cumbersome formatting requirements. To resolve these issues, we’ve implemented the following key enhancements: Simplified File Formatting:  We’ve integrated direct links to file format requirements right in the loader, and added a download button for the template—eliminating the need to go to the documentation. Smart Column Mapping:  Users can now map file columns to specific types such as ID, Title, or Workflow Stage. While the system is designed to map certain column types, you have the flexibility to override our guesses. Date Format Detection:  We now show the detected date format (e.g., MM/DD vs. DD/MM), allowing you to verify and adjust as needed, resolving a common pain point for users. Comprehensive File Analysis:   After mapping, we analyze the entire file and identify any cleanup actions needed. Users can correct these for future uploads or proceed with loading the file as is. If there are rows with errors, we display the details and allow users to export the list, noting that any problematic rows will be removed if they continue. These enhancements are designed to make your data loading process more seamless, allowing you to focus on what matters most—your analysis. Key Bug Fixes to the Beta Process Behavior Chart Starting this week, we're rolling out key bug fixes to the Beta Process Behaviour Chart across all versions to improve readability in dark mode and correct inaccuracies in tooltip data. Saved Data Sets for Azure: Major Update Work on Saved Data Sets for Azure is progressing well, with the goal of eliminating the need to recreate data set configurations. Stay tuned here or subscribe to our newsletter for beta release updates.  Global Date Range Control To view a segment of your data set, you currently need to apply date range changes to each chart individually. With the new global date range control, you can set the date range in one place and apply it across your entire data set at once. This feature is next and on its way. Stay tuned for more updates.  Additional Display options for stalled or blocked items Our current dimming feature is designed to highlight non-stalled or non-blocked items but lacks support for users who need to see all items while distinguishing between them. The upcoming feature will offer new options for displaying stalled and blocked items in charts, supporting more use cases. Penetration testing underway for ActionableAgile™ Analytics for Jira Cloud We’ll be making the report available for download via our Trust Center  as soon as it is ready. Did you know that you can subscribe to our trust center to be updated of changes and additions as they happen? Explore Our Product Roadmap and Shape the Future We invite you to explore our  Product Roadmap —your go-to page for all things development! Here, you can get a behind-the-scenes look at what we’re working on and have a say in what comes next. Under Consideration:  Explore the ideas and features we’re currently evaluating based on user feedback. Planned:  Get a sneak peek at the features and updates that have been prioritized and are scheduled for development. In Progress:  Stay updated on the features that are actively being worked on, and track their progress. Released:  Check out the latest features and improvements that are now live. Submit Your Idea:  Have a feature in mind that you’d like to see? Submit your ideas and help shape the future of ActionableAgile. Visit our Product Roadmap  today to stay informed, give feedback, and make sure your voice is heard. Together, let's build something amazing! Stay tuned for more updates and continue exploring all that ActionableAgile™ Analytics has to offer.