On a Burndown Chart, if the diagonal trend line runs below the plan line, what does this indicate?

On a Burndown Chart, if the diagonal trend line runs below the plan line, what does this indicate?

• A. More resources are being used to get work done
• B. Fewer resources are being used to get work done
• C. Less work is being completed than forecasted
• D. More work is being completed than forecasted

Answer: (D)

A burndown chart compares how much work remains against the planned pace. The plan line represents the expected amount of work left if you progress as forecasted, typically ending at zero at the sprint’s end. If the diagonal trend line is below that plan line, it means you’re burning through work faster than planned—more work has been completed by that point than forecasted. In other words, you’re ahead of schedule. If you were behind schedule, the trend line would sit above the plan line, showing less work completed than forecasted. The chart measures scope completion, not resource usage, so discussions about more or fewer resources aren’t the direct takeaway from the line’s position.

A burndown chart compares how much work remains against the planned pace. The plan line represents the expected amount of work left if you progress as forecasted, typically ending at zero at the sprint’s end. If the diagonal trend line is below that plan line, it means you’re burning through work faster than planned—more work has been completed by that point than forecasted. In other words, you’re ahead of schedule.

If you were behind schedule, the trend line would sit above the plan line, showing less work completed than forecasted. The chart measures scope completion, not resource usage, so discussions about more or fewer resources aren’t the direct takeaway from the line’s position.