Here’s a breakdown of common burndown chart anti-patterns. These are patterns can signal deeper issues in team performance, estimation, or process adherence. The list includes 7 anti-pattern signals, what causes each of them, and how to address it.
I used ChatGPT to help identify common Burndown Chart Anti-patterns.
This video is safe for viewing in the workplace.
This is learning, so, sit back and enjoy
Top 7 Burndown Chart Anti-patterns
1. Flat Line at the Top
What it means: No work is being completed in the first few days of the sprint.
Causes:
- Overplanning or long ramp-up at the sprint start.
- Tasks not being broken down small enough.
- Work-in-progress (WIP) limits ignored — team is spread too thin.
Fix:
- Encourage pulling small, well-defined tasks.
- Revisit backlog refinement quality.
- Coach on swarming to finish items early.
2. Steep Drop at the End
What it means: Most of the work is marked done right before the sprint ends.
Causes:
- Last-minute rush or ‘mini-waterfall’ behavior.
- Testing, review, or deployment left to the end.
- Definition of Done (DoD) not being followed throughout.
Fix:
- Reiterate the importance of vertical slicing.
- Integrate testing and review throughout the sprint.
- Check that DoD includes all necessary criteria and is applied consistently.
3. Zig-Zag Pattern
What it means: Work is marked as done, then not done, or effort estimates fluctuate wildly.
Causes:
- Inconsistent task updates.
- Poor estimation or rework.
- Tasks being reopened frequently.
Fix:
- Encourage consistent daily updates.
- Discuss rework in retrospectives—why did we miss it?
- Reassess how the team sizes work & adjusts estimates.
4. Flat Line at the Bottom
What it means: All work is marked as done early, then nothing new happens.
Causes:
- Work was underestimated.
- More work wasn’t pulled in after early finish.
- Artificial under-commitment to look good.
Fix:
- Review velocity & improve future sprint planning accuracy.
- Encourage pulling in more work if sprint goals are met early.
- Address psychological safety—teams should feel safe to stretch.
5. Constantly Over Ideal Line
What it means: Team is consistently behind the planned pace.
Causes:
- Overcommitment.
- Blockers or interruptions.
- Underlying estimation issues.
Fix:
- Use retrospective to adjust sprint planning & capacity.
- Track and remove recurring impediments.
- Revisit story pointing practices and team velocity.
6. Not Updating the Chart Daily
What it means: The chart becomes outdated and useless.
Causes:
- Manual process feels burdensome.
- Team doesn’t see value.
- No shared ownership of the board or tool.
Fix:
- Automate if possible (e.g., Jira dashboards).
- Emphasize chart’s role in transparency and ownership.
- Make updates a routine part of the Daily Scrum.
7. Tracking Tasks Instead of Value
What it means: The team tracks sub-tasks or hours, losing sight of delivered value.
Causes:
- Focus on activity over outcomes.
- Misaligned Definition of Done.
- Confusion between progress and completion.
Fix:
- Align burndown tracking with completed backlog items, not subtasks.
- Emphasize value delivery and customer perspective.
- Ensure DoD includes ‘potentially shippable’ criteria.
Recommended Videos to Help with Agile Delivery
Carefully curated video recommendations for you:
- What are a Burndown Chart, a Burnup Chart, and Velocity?
- How to Create a Burndown Chart in 10 Easy Steps
- What are Epics, User Stories, and Story Points? | Video
- Agile Concepts Briefing (VideoCompilation)
- Agile Tools Briefing (Video Compilation)
- Agile Project Management Briefing (Video Compilation)
What Kit does a Project Manager Need?
I asked Project Managers in a couple of forums what material things you need to have, to do your job as a Project Manager. They responded magnificently. I compiled their answers into a Kit list. I added my own.
Check out the Kit a Project Manager needs
Note that the links are affiliated.
Learn Still More
For more great Project Management videos, please subscribe to the OnlinePMCourses YouTube channel.
If you want basic Management Courses – free training hosted on YouTube, with 2 new management lessons a week, check out our sister channel, Management Courses.
For more of our Project Management videos in themed collections, join our Free Academy of Project Management.
For more of our videos in themed collections, join our Free Academy of Project Management.
