Say it like this
- Our velocity is trending upward this quarter
- We need to establish a baseline velocity before forecasting
- The team maintained consistent velocity despite staffing changes
Use it at work
Planning
- Our velocity is about 30 points per sprint.
- Let's plan based on our average velocity.
Reporting
- Velocity dropped because two people were sick.
- Velocity went up after we fixed the build.
Being careful
- Velocity isn't a productivity score.
- Don't compare velocity across teams.
Don't say this
Velocity is not about speed; it is about consistent, measurable output. Forcing faster work leads to burnout and quality issues.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| velocity | Points done per sprint | Scrum teams | Planning |
| throughput | Items done per time | Teams | Flow |
| capacity | How much a team can do | Managers | Planning |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. You are explaining team productivity to a manager. Which sounds most professional?
2. We should use our _______ from the last three sprints to predict next quarter's capacity.
3. Which sentence misuses 'velocity' in a tech context?
4. Rewrite this sentence using 'velocity' correctly: 'Last month, we finished 45 units of work. This month we finished 50 units. So we are going faster.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"Our velocity is trending upward this quarter"
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More about velocity
Real examples(3)
- in a standup
"Last sprint we completed 38 story points, so our velocity is stable at around 35 to 40 points per sprint."
- in sprint planning
"Based on our historical velocity of 32 points, we should plan for roughly 30 to 35 points in the next two-week sprint."
- in a retrospective
"Our velocity dropped this sprint because we spent time refactoring the database, which will improve long-term productivity."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Velocity is not the same as speed. It is specifically about the amount of work completed in a fixed time period during sprints, not how quickly individual tasks are done.
- ✕My velocity as a developer is 15 story points.✓Our team velocity is 40 story points per sprint.
Velocity is a team metric, not an individual one. It measures collective output, not personal productivity.
- ✕Velocity tells us how fast we are coding.✓Velocity tells us how much work we can complete in a sprint.
Velocity measures completed work quantity and quality, not coding speed.
Other forms(2)
- velocity noun
"The team velocity increased from 28 to 35 points this quarter."
- velocity (plural: velocities) noun
"Comparing velocities across different teams helps us understand capacity differences."
Often used with(6)
- team velocity · The standard way to refer to the team's collective sprint output
- historical velocity · Past velocity data used to forecast future capacity
- sprint velocity · Velocity measured for a specific sprint
- velocity trending up/down · Describing whether velocity is increasing or decreasing over time
- consistent velocity · Stable, predictable velocity across multiple sprints
- establish velocity · To measure and set baseline velocity for a new team
Similar words(3)
- throughput · Similar meaning but more technical; often used interchangeably in agile contexts
- capacity · Broader term for team work capacity; velocity is a measured metric of capacity
- burn rate · How quickly a team completes work; velocity is a more neutral measurement
Opposites(3)
- bottleneck
- slowdown
- impediment
Questions(5)
- What does velocity mean in software engineering?
- Velocity is a metric in agile development that measures the average amount of work a team completes during a sprint, typically expressed in story points. It helps teams forecast how much work they can realistically accomplish in future sprints.
- How do you use velocity in a sentence at work?
- You might say: 'Our team velocity has stabilized at 38 story points per sprint, so we should commit to approximately 35-40 points in the next sprint.' Or: 'We need to track velocity over at least three sprints before we can make accurate forecasts.'
- Is velocity the same as speed?
- No. Speed refers to how fast someone works individually. Velocity is a team measurement of completed work in a fixed time period. Fast workers do not necessarily increase team velocity if work is not properly prioritized or if there are bottlenecks elsewhere.
- Why does velocity matter in agile teams?
- Velocity enables realistic planning, helps prevent overcommitment, allows accurate forecasting, and provides data to improve team processes. It is a foundation for sustainable development and stakeholder communication.
- Can individual developers have velocity?
- Not in the traditional agile sense. Velocity is always a team metric. However, you might informally discuss an individual contributor's typical output or capacity, but this is not velocity in the formal sense.
