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Estimation is deeply embedded in how many organisations plan and talk about delivery. It provides structure, numbers, and a sense of control in environments that often feel uncertain. For Delivery Leaders, estimation can feel like a necessary tool,  something that helps align teams and reassure stakeholders. Yet, despite careful planning and repeated estimation, predictability often remains elusive. Many Delivery Leads recognise the pattern. Plans are revisited. Timelines are adjusted. Explanations are repeated. Even with detailed estimates in place, delivery still surprises us, and not in good ways. This disconnect creates frustration for teams, stakeholders, and Delivery Leads alike. The problem usually isn’t bad estimation. It’s what estimation is being asked to do. Story points and similar techniques were originally designed to support team-level conversations. They help teams discuss complexity, surface assumptions, and build shared understanding. Used this way, they can be valuable. Trouble starts when estimates are stretched beyond that context. As delivery responsibility expands across teams and initiatives, estimates are aggregated, compared, and rolled up. They’re used to forecast timelines and support commitments at a system level. At that point, the assumptions behind them begin to weaken. Different teams estimate differently. Context gets lost. Variability is hidden inside averages. What looked precise during planning becomes fragile during execution. This is where Delivery Leads feel the tension most clearly. Even with detailed estimates, reality keeps intervening. Work is interrupted. Dependencies emerge late. Priorities shift. Estimates are revised sometimes repeatedly. Over time, confidence in the numbers erodes. To compensate, Delivery Leads often add buffers, contingency plans, or extra layers of reporting. These actions are meant to restore confidence, but they also increase complexity and pressure without addressing the root issue. What’s missing in these situations isn’t better estimation. It’s evidence. Evidence-based delivery starts by looking at how work has actually behaved in the past. Every delivery system produces data. Work items start and finish. Time passes. Some work flows smoothly. Other work slows down, waits, or gets blocked. Over time, these patterns reveal far more about predictability than estimates ever can. By observing cycle times, completion rates, and how work ages, Delivery Leads gain insight into how their system really operates. Variability becomes visible instead of hidden. Risk surfaces earlier, not only when deadlines are missed. This shift changes delivery conversations. Instead of debating whether an estimate was accurate, teams and leaders discuss patterns. Instead of asking who was wrong, they ask what the system is telling them. Instead of focusing only on planned outcomes, they consider likely outcomes. Flow-based thinking builds on this evidence. It focuses on how work moves through the system over time. It highlights the impact of work in progress, handovers, and interruptions, and helps explain why starting more work often leads to finishing less. Importantly, this approach doesn’t mean abandoning planning. Planning still matters. What changes is what informs it. When planning is grounded in evidence rather than assumptions, Delivery Leads can speak more confidently about risk and likelihood. Stakeholders gain a clearer understanding of what’s possible. Teams feel less pressure to defend numbers and more space to focus on finishing work. That’s why many Delivery Leads are exploring flow-based metrics as a complement to their existing practices, not to replace everything they do, but to strengthen decision-making where estimation falls short. If this feels familiar, there’s a practical next step. We’ve created The Delivery Leader’s Guide to Flow-Based Metrics, a practical introduction to leading delivery with flow, not points. The guide explores how Delivery Leaders can move from estimation to evidence, and use flow-based insights to improve predictability and confidence. You can download the full guide to learn how to apply this shift in your own delivery context. Download The Delivery Leader’s Guide to Flow-Based Metrics.

Evidence-Based Management: How Agile Forecasting and EBM Lead to Better Outcomes Evidence-Based Management (EBM) is a framework that helps organizations make smarter, more informed decisions by using empirical data to evaluate and improve performance. Developed by the creators of Scrum, EBM pairs seamlessly with agile practices, helping teams measure value delivery through Key Value Areas such as  Current Value ,  Time-to-Market , and  Unrealized Value . It ensures that decisions are grounded in evidence rather than assumptions. By continuously inspecting and adapting, EBM enables incremental improvements, allowing teams to deliver measurable outcomes that align with business goals. EBM ties into Agile Forecasting by providing a framework for using empirical data to guide decision-making, measure progress, and forecast outcomes. EBM focuses on outcomes and the evidence of value delivered, making it a natural complement to Agile Forecasting, which uses data and probabilistic methods to predict future performance. How Agile Forecasting and EBM Work Together EBM ties directly into Agile Forecasting by providing a framework for using data to guide decisions, measure progress, and forecast outcomes. EBM focuses on the evidence of value delivered, while Agile Forecasting, powered by tools like  ActionableAgile® Analytics , uses flow metrics and probabilistic methods to predict future performance with greater accuracy and transparency. Here’s how the two approaches align: 1. Focusing on Value Delivery EBM emphasizes maximizing value rather than focusing solely on  outputs . Agile Forecasting complements this by helping teams predict when and how much value they can deliver based on real historical data. For instance, with ActionableAgile® Analytics, teams can: Use  T hroughput forecasting  to estimate how many high-value features will be completed by a target date. Run  Monte Carlo simulations  to calculate the likelihood of delivering a prioritized set of features within a specific timeframe, ensuring alignment between delivery and strategic business goals. 2. Data-Driven Decision Making EBM relies on empirical evidence, using Key Value Areas such as Current Value, Time-to-Market, and Unrealized Value, to support informed decision-making. Similarly, Agile Forecasting uses historical data, such as Throughput and Cycle Time, to make accurate predictions about future performance. This shared reliance on data ensures that: Teams can prioritize work that maximizes value and deliver features faster to meet customer needs. Forecasting provides clear estimates of Time-to-Market for specific features or product increments, helping stakeholders understand delivery timelines and plan with greater confidence. 3. Continuous Improvement through Metrics Both EBM and Agile Forecasting thrive on continuous feedback loops. Agile Forecasting uses key flow metrics ( Cycle time , WIP , Throughput ) to refine predictions and identify improvement opportunities. EBM integrates these metrics into broader Key Value Areas, helping organizations evaluate how process changes impact business outcomes, such as reducing delays (Time-to-Market) or increasing stakeholder satisfaction (Current Value). This creates a data-informed culture where progress is visible, measurable, and continuously improving. 4. Risk Management In EBM, understanding risks is essential for managing  Unrealized Value , the gap between potential and actual value delivered. Agile Forecasting, especially when powered by ActionableAgile® Analytics, enhances risk management by providing probabilistic forecasts that reveal the likelihood of meeting specific delivery targets, enabling teams to plan for variability and uncertainty. It also helps surface bottlenecks and inefficiencies in delivery processes through flow metrics, allowing teams to identify where delays could threaten value delivery. 5. Transparency and Stakeholder Confidence EBM encourages transparency by using metrics to communicate progress and value delivery. Agile Forecasting supports this by: Providing clear, data-driven forecasts that help stakeholders make informed decisions with confidence. Demonstrating probabilities and scenarios (e.g., “There’s an 85% chance of delivering 15 features by the end of the quarter”) to set realistic expectations and foster trust between teams and stakeholders. These kinds of insights are easily visualized through ActionableAgile® Analytics. Better Together: Turning Data into Decisions When organizations combine EBM’s focus on measurable value with Agile Forecasting’s probabilistic insights, they unlock a new level of predictability and alignment. Together, these practices enable teams to: Improve predictability while maintaining agility and flexibility. Align team efforts with strategic goals. Use real-world data to guide decisions, reduce uncertainty, and deliver incremental value continuously. This partnership between  Leading EDJ E  and  55 Degrees  highlights how EBM and Agile Forecasting can work hand in hand to build truly data-driven organizations, where teams deliver the  right  value at the  right  time. Resources to Get Started Ebook: If you'd like a deeper dive into getting started with Flow Metrics, you can download the free ebook. Ready to get started and understand flow metrics? If you’ve been curious about Flow Metrics but unsure where to start, this guide breaks it down in a straightforward, human way. No jargon. No complexity. Just practical steps toward more predictable delivery.

The Ongoing Battle of Agile vs Waterfall Agile teams often face challenges in predicting project timelines and delivery dates due to the framework's inherent flexibility, which prioritizes adaptability over rigid schedules. While this approach aligns with Agile principles, most IT departments operate within yearly budgets that require some level of forecasting to understand when funded initiatives are to be completed. But scoping out an entire year’s worth of work is not only inefficient but also counterproductive to Agile’s iterative nature. Traditional approaches, such as deterministic forecasting (forecasting to a single date) commonly used in waterfall methodologies, attempt to map out the entire scope, timeline, and resource allocation for a project upfront. However, this assumes that requirements, priorities, and team performance will remain static Throughout the project lifecycle, a notion that rarely aligns with the realities of modern software development. When unexpected changes arise (e.g., shifting priorities, evolving customer needs, or unforeseen technical challenges), deterministic plans become obsolete, leading to missed deadlines, mismanagement, and stakeholder frustration. So, what's a team to do when they are stuck in this conundrum? How can teams forecast work enough to satisfy the planning and budgetary needs of most IT departments while staying nimble enough to produce high-quality, useful software features? This is where Agile Forecasting using Flow Metrics and Monte Carlo Simulation comes in handy. A Smarter Way to Forecast In contrast to more rigid waterfall planning, predictive approaches like Agile Forecasting are better suited for today’s dynamic software development environment. By leveraging historical data and probabilistic models, Agile Forecasting embraces variability and uncertainty, allowing teams to provide a realistic range of outcomes associated with a probability of success, rather than a fixed, single date that often results in unrealistic predictions. Techniques like Monte Carlo Simulations and flow metrics help teams forecast delivery timelines and Throughput with greater accuracy, enabling more informed decision-making and proactive risk management. Agile Forecasting bridges the gap between the adaptability of Agile and the need for predictability in IT planning. It empowers teams to achieve realistic goals without compromising flexibility, delivering value iteratively while meeting business expectations. In this post, we’ll delve into how Agile Forecasting, powered by tools like Monte Carlo Simulations and flow metrics, can revolutionize the way teams plan, execute, and deliver their work. The Case for Agile Forecasting Agile forecasting is a method used to predict how much work a team can complete within a given timeframe by leveraging historical data and current performance metrics. Unlike deterministic approaches, such as the upfront, rigid project planning typical of the waterfall methodology, it embraces variability and applies probabilistic thinking to deliver a more accurate range of potential outcomes. By adopting agile forecasting, teams can: Set achievable goals: Use historical data and flow metrics to make realistic predictions about what the team can complete. Manage risks effectively: Leverage probabilistic forecasting to account for variability and visualize bottlenecks with Cumulative Flow Diagrams (CFD) and flow metrics. Use Monte Carlo Simulations to create contingency plans and apply Work in Progress (WIP) limits to reduce Cycle Times. Improve stakeholder confidence in delivery timelines: Provide data-driven forecasts using Monte Carlo Simulations and refine them continuously with updated metrics. Flow Metrics: The Foundation of Agile Forecasting Flow metrics are essential for understanding how efficiently work moves through a development process. The key metrics include: Cycle Time : The time it takes for a work item to move from start to finish. Work in Progress (WIP) : The number of active items being worked on. Throughput : The number of items completed in a given time period. Work Item Age : The elapsed time since work on an item started. Applying Flow Metrics in Practice: Sprint Planning: Use throughput to determine how much work to pull into a sprint, moving away from deterministic velocity metrics. Retrospectives: Analyze Cycle Time scatterplots to identify patterns or outliers and improve processes. WIP Limits: Leverage Little’s Law (a principle linking WIP, Throughput, and Cycle Time) to understand how limiting WIP improves Cycle Time and overall flow efficiency. Monte Carlo Simulations: A Powerful Tool for Forecasting Monte Carlo Simulations (MCS) is a computational algorithm that uses repeated random sampling to generate probabilities for a range of outcomes. In agile forecasting, MCS helps answer critical questions: How many items can we close by a target date? When will a specific number of items be completed? How many items can we close by a target date? This question is answered by running simulations using historical Throughput data (e.g., the average number of items completed per sprint). By analyzing this data, the simulation generates a probability distribution that predicts how many items are likely to be completed by a specific date. For example, the output might indicate there is an 85% chance of completing 20 items, or 70% chance of completing 25 items, by the end of the next sprint. This insight helps teams set realistic expectations and manage scope effectively within a defined timeframe. When will a specific number of items be completed? To answer this, the simulation uses the same historical Throughput or Cycle Time data to estimate the range of dates by which a set number of items can be delivered. The result is expressed as probabilities, such as a 90% likelihood of completing 30 items within 25 days. This information is particularly valuable for fixed-scope projects, where knowing the approximate completion date is critical for planning and stakeholder communication. Monte Carlo Simulations in Action with ActionableAgile® Analytics Monte Carlo Simulations can be run using general analytics tools, but those often require extra setup and manual work. ActionableAgile® Analytics streamlines the process, making forecasting faster and easier. It automatically collects your historical Throughput and Cycle Time data from Jira (or Azure DevOps) and runs thousands of simulations in seconds, delivering clear, visual probability forecasts without the need for complex setup. With  ActionableAgile® Analytics , teams can: Instantly generate probability charts showing the likelihood of hitting specific delivery targets. Visualize forecasts alongside real-time flow metrics such as WIP, Throughput, and Cycle Time for a complete picture of performance. Adjust variables dynamically to explore  what-if scenarios  and assess how changes in WIP, scope, or team Throughput might affect outcomes. This blend of empirical data and simulation-based forecasting gives teams and stakeholders the confidence to plan realistically, manage risk proactively, and adapt without losing predictability. How It Works Gather Historical Data:  Collect Throughput or Cycle Time data (e.g., completed tasks per sprint). Even a few weeks’ worth of data is enough to start. Run Simulations:  Use this data to simulate thousands of possible outcomes, accounting for variability and uncertainty. Generate Probabilities:  Calculate the likelihood of achieving specific delivery goals, instantly visualized through tools like  ActionableAgile® Analytics . For example, an MCS might show there’s an 85% chance of completing 20 items in the next sprint. This approach is especially useful for fixed-scope or fixed-date projects, providing actionable insights into what’s achievable. Continuous Improvement with Agile Forecasting Agile Forecasting isn’t a one-time activity. It’s a continuous cycle of inspection, adaptation, and learning. By regularly analyzing flow metrics and leveraging probabilistic tools like  Monte Carlo Simulations  through  ActionableAgile® Analytics , teams can refine their workflows, improve predictability, and deliver value more consistently. Tools and Resources to Get Started Ebook: If you'd like a deeper dive into getting started with Flow Metrics, you can download the free ebook. Ready to get started and understand flow metrics? If you’ve been curious about Flow Metrics but unsure where to start, this guide breaks it down in a straightforward, human way. No jargon. No complexity. Just practical steps toward more predictable delivery. Books: When will it be done by Daniel Vacanti and Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability : Tenth Anniversary Edition by Daniel Vacanti Tools:   ActionableAgile® Analytics By adopting these techniques and tools, your team can shift from guesswork to reliable, evidence-based forecasting, delivering work with confidence, clarity, and predictability. This article is part of a collaboration between 55 Degrees and Leading EDJ E , combining expertise in agile forecasting and evidence-based management to help teams plan smarter and deliver value predictably.

Struggling to trust your delivery dates? If you’ve ever struggled to explain flow metrics, get buy-in from leadership, or simply make delivery more predictable, this guide is for you. We partnered with innovative technology leader, Leading EDJE  to produce a clear, conversational, and practical introduction to Flow Metrics. Perfect for teams taking their first step into data-driven delivery. This free resource breaks down the fundamentals, shows how to get started without changing your entire process, and gives you real-world examples you can take straight into your organization. What You’ll Learn What flow metrics are and how they differ from traditional estimation The four core metrics to start with: WIP, Cycle Time, Work Item Age, and Throughput How to introduce flow metrics without disrupting your current process How to build a simple business case for leadership Common challenges teams face and how to overcome them "Using Flow Metrics and Probabilistic Forecasting gave me the clarity I needed as a Product Manager to understand delivery dates and actual risk. It took the guesswork out of the equation and made my conversations with stakeholders much more realistic and productive" Product Manager - David's Bridal Ready to get started and understand flow metrics? If you’ve been curious about Flow Metrics but unsure where to start, this guide breaks it down in a straightforward, human way. No jargon. No complexity. Just practical steps toward more predictable delivery.

If you’re tracking OKRs solely with Jira’s built-in reports, you’re steering your team using outdated snapshots rather than real-time insights. Jira may display metrics, but it lacks the tools necessary to identify what’s slowing progress, where tasks stall, or whether you’re truly on track to meet your goals. Without answers to these questions, you’re left reacting to issues rather than proactively addressing them. To stop navigating with outdated data, you need tools specifically designed to work with OKRs. With Oboard and ActionableAgile® Analytics, you can move from passive tracking to proactive execution. In other words, you get to fix issues before they derail your goals. And yes, Jira offers free reports, such as Control Charts and Cumulative Flow Diagrams (CFDs). And you might think that they are enough. But let’s be honest — do they tell you what you need to know? Four Things Jira Won’t Tell You Are we on track to meet our key results? What’s slowing us down? Where are work items piling up? If we continue at this pace, will we succeed? If you’re serious about hitting your OKRs, you need answers to these questions. And Jira won’t tell you any of this. At its absolute best, it will provide you with circumstantial data from which you can extrapolate the real answers, but this takes time and a lot of trial and error to see it properly. With the effort and time it takes to parse the free Jira reports, you will still be reacting to problems instead of preventing them.  How Oboard and ActionableAgile® Analytics Connect Strategy to Work OKR Board for Jira helps teams define and track OKRs within Jira, ensuring clear alignment between strategy and execution. It provides easy-to-use tools for OKR tracking and management, along with customizable, real-time OKR reports ActionableAgile® Analytics is a powerful flow metrics tool that helps teams track work progress, spot bottlenecks, and improve predictability — all within Jira. With insights into Cycle Time, Throughput, Aging Work in Progress (WIP), and Monte Carlo Simulations, teams can move beyond gut feeling and make data-driven decisions about delivery speed and efficiency. By using ActionableAgile® alongside Oboard, teams can bridge the gap between strategy (OKRs) and execution (flow metrics), ensuring they don’t just set goals — they achieve them. Key Flow Metrics That Help Tech Teams Achieve OKRs Tech teams using Jira often set OKRs around efficiency, speed, and stability. To emphasize those qualities, we recommend you to focus on the flow metrics, such as: Cycle Time – Tracks how long issues take to move from “In Progress” to “Done,” helping teams identify bottlenecks in Jira workflows and optimize handoffs. Throughput – Measures completed Jira issues over a set period, ensuring teams can track delivery rates and adjust sprint or release goals accordingly. Aging Work in Progress (Aging WIP) – Identifies stalled tasks in Jira boards, highlighting risks before they impact OKRs tied to lead time or efficiency. (Bonus Tip) Monte Carlo Simulations – Forecasts OKR success by predicting feature delivery dates based on historical Jira data, helping teams set realistic deadlines. These metrics will provide you with the clarity that Jira alone cannot. For example, if an Engineering team’s OKR is “ Reduce deployment lead time by 20% ,” flow metrics show where the slowdowns occur. If Aging WIP is high, it signals that tasks are getting stuck. If Cycle Time isn’t improving, teams can identify process bottlenecks and improve efficiency. Real-World Examples of Flow Metrics for Tech Team OKRs When it comes to improving how your tech team works, OKRs are just the start — flow metrics reveal why things slow down and where adjustments are needed. Below are real-world examples of how DevOps and Scrum teams use metrics like Cycle Time, Aging WIP, and Throughput to turn objectives into action and challenges into insights. OKR: Improve Software Stability & Reliability A DevOps team using Jira has the following OKR: [O] Improve stability by accelerating issue resolution and reducing system failures. [KR1] Reduce the number of unresolved critical incidents in Jira by 20%. [KR2] Decrease mean time to resolution (MTTR) for performance-related issues by 30%. They can use the following Agile Flow Metrics to see the actual challenges behind it: Cycle Time for bug and performance fixes measures how long it takes for Jira issues to be resolved from detection to resolution, identifying potential delays. Throughput of resolved incidents ensures the team completes fixes at a sustainable rate to meet the OKR. Aging WIP highlights bottlenecks by identifying Jira issues that have been in progress for too long without being completed. Example in Action The Engineering team analyzes Cycle Time trends and sees that critical incidents take an average of 20 days to resolve, with 4 days spent in triage before work begins. This insight sparks discussions on reducing triage time and optimizing handoffs, leading to actions that shorten resolution times and help achieve the OKR. OKR: Improve Deployment Speed & Predictability (Scrum Team Focused) A Scrum team working in Jira set the following OKR: [O] Improve delivery speed and predictability; [KR1] Increase the number of completed and deployed features per sprint by 25%; [KR2] Ensure 90% of committed backlog items are delivered within the sprint. To uncover what’s slowing them down, they rely on these Agile Flow Metrics: Cycle Time for feature development indicates where delays occur throughout the sprint workflow. Throughput of completed stories tracks how consistently the team delivers value. Monte Carlo Simulations forecast sprint completion likelihood and help manage delivery expectations. Example in Action The team notices that P1 bugs often fail to meet SLA deadlines. A closer look at Cycle Time reveals that these bugs remain in the “Pending Release” state for up to 20+ days. That insight triggers improvements in prioritization, Jira automations for fast-tracking critical bugs, and a new escalation process. The result? Faster resolutions, happier customers, and an OKR achieved. Conclusion Setting OKRs is the easy part. Making them happen? That’s where most teams struggle. Oboard provides the structure to align strategy within Jira. ActionableAgile shows you how work is flowing — or not. Used together, they help teams stop guessing, start seeing, and take action where it matters. Because hitting your goals shouldn’t be about scrambling at the end of the quarter — it should be about knowing, early and often, whether you’re on track. Curious what that looks like in practice? Try combining Oboard and ActionableAgile®—and start closing the gap between ambition and delivery. About Oboard https://oboard.io/ is an Atlassian Marketplace app that helps teams set, track, and achieve OKRs directly in Jira. By connecting strategic goals to daily work, Oboard provides the structure teams need to stay aligned and focused on what matters most. This post was created in close collaboration with Margo Sakova, Marketing Manager at Oboard.

This article is a guest contribution from 55 Degrees Partner, Automation Consultants. Automation Consultants (AC) is an Agile and DevOps Consultancy, dedicated to helping you maximise the value and power of Atlassian tools. Whether you’re embarking on your Cloud-first journey, need to optimise Atlassian tooling, or would benefit from dedicated Atlassian training, AC will guide you to a successful outcome.  When teams first start out on their Agile journey, they often have a number of goals in mind. You may have similar ones: To improve product quality. For your people to operate more collaboratively. To benefit from embedded continuous development and improvement. The list goes on. But ‘becoming Agile’ does not happen overnight. Often, it can take a long time to truly embed Agile working practices and foster a suitable working environment, where failure is valued and communication is open. How do you know if you’re there yet? And how do you know how far you have to go? These are questions that an Agile Maturity Assessment (AMA) can answer What is Agile maturity? Agile maturity is the extent to which an organisation or team effectively implements and continuously improves Agile practices, processes and culture. In doing this, they can enhance flexibility, collaboration, and productivity, and deliver value, both internally and to customers. How do you know when you’ve reached Agile maturity? Whilst it’s tempting to simply say ‘ Take an Agile Maturity Assessment and you’ll find out! ‘, the truth is that Agile maturity level is not, of course, a static state. The very essence of Agile is fluid, with continuous improvement and feedback loops, a culture of failing fast and learning from mistakes, and the ability to respond to change and pivot accordingly. As a general rule, we’d describe Advanced Agile Mastery as when Agile principles are deeply rooted in a team or organisation’s operations and culture. Challenges of adopting Agile Some organisations – and yours may be included in this – tend to struggle implementing Agile from the start. Ostensibly it’s a fairly light manifesto – more of a philosophy rather than a set of rules. But to truly embed Agile and achieve advanced mastery, you may have to overcome a number of challenges: Lack of stakeholder engagement or understanding: This is a real blocker for a number of organisations. There needs to be a top-down approach to Agile adoption, with leadership understanding and valuing its purpose. It’s also important to secure this support because, as with any period of change, there may be some initial teething issues. You need your key stakeholders and leadership team to recognise that change doesn’t happen overnight. Outdated tooling and processes: Whilst the Agile Manifesto favours ‘ individuals and interactions over tools and processes ‘, it’s still valuable to review your tooling. Jira, for example, is designed for Agile project management, with a number of dedicated templates and boards to support teams. Some platforms may be less Agile-friendly, which can hinder the flow of work. An unsafe working environment: Agile teams need a safe and supportive working environment to flourish, where mistakes are recognised as learning opportunities. Again, this is where your leadership’s support is also vital. If you’re struggling with challenges like these, AC’s Agile coaching services could be just the solution. Ranging from ongoing coaching support to stand-alone workshops, we can deliver you bespoke coaching to meet your needs and overcome your challenges.  What is an Agile Maturity Assessment (AMA)? Sometimes referred to as an Agile Readiness Assessment, an AMA is a structured evaluation process used to measure and analyse an organisation’s level of Agile adoption and identify areas for improvement. We’ll identify gaps, offer actionable recommendations, and set you on a smooth path to successful Agile transformation. Now, some organisations may approach this in different ways but, here at AC, our Agile Maturity Assessment model is based on five key areas: People: This area includes cross-skills and continuous learning, levels of empowerment and motivation across your team, and how feedback and growth is embedded. Strategy: From your team’s alignment with organisational vision to the use of measurement and analytics, this area explores how your work aligns with overarching goals and priorities. Culture: This area assesses your working environment, including whether transparency and communication has been fostered, how committed your team or organisation is to Agile principles, and how failure is valued (or not as the case may be…). Teams: In this section, we’d evaluate the autonomy and collaboration of your teams. Operations: Encompassing tooling, delivery, testing and more. We’ll guide you through each element, and award a score from 1-5 for each. At the end of the assessment, your total score will demonstrate at what level of Agile maturity you’re currently operating. What happens after the assessment? This is where the real gold happens. It’s only once you know what a problem is that you can fix it. Once we’ve run you through your Agile audit, you’ll be assigned a level of maturity – and this could be ‘emerging’, ‘maturing’ or ‘advanced’. We can then put together a plan of action for you, to help you adjust and improve your working practices and environment. Ultimately, all the action points we’d recommend will go towards helping your organisation be in a stronger position to truly embed Agile principles and experience long-term success – or to continually improve your existing processes. Benefits of an Agile Maturity Assessment So, why take an audit like this? What benefits could it deliver? Identifies gaps and areas for improvement: Sometimes outside eyes are needed to gauge where you can enhance your processes and how. Celebrates your successes: It can also be valuable to demonstrate where elements of your Agile adoption are going well! Reinforces the value of Agile: An Agile assessment, like the one we’ve described here, can help to reaffirm its importance and the benefits that the Agile mindset can deliver. This can be important for stakeholders and even reticent team members to remember. Provides you with a bespoke action plan: Ultimately, you’ll end your Agile audit with a practical plan that you can use to make meaningful and pragmatic changes. After-care: Here at AC, we don’t simply close the door after we deliver our post-audit recommendations. We also provide additional support and consultancy services. From Agile coaching to Jira Align implementation and consultancy, we can guide you through each step of your Agile journey. How to assess your agile maturity model? If you’d like to understand how Agile your organisation is, and how you can enhance your Agile adoption even further, simply contact Automation Consultants today to begin your journey to Agile mastery. Automation Consultants Agile Maturity Assessment offering provides a flexible and valuable way to enhan ce your workflow, culture and output. Ready to understand your Agile Maturity? Start with a free 30-minute consultation call. Register below.

At 55 Degrees, we believe that trust is earned through transparency and consistent action. That’s why we continuously invest in the security and reliability of our products and services. We’re proud to announce that 55 Degrees has successfully achieved certification for the latest ISO 27001:2022 standard, the global benchmark for information security management. This certification demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting your data and strengthening trust. It ensures that every forecast, chart, and data set you interact with is backed by industry-leading security standards designed to keep your information safe. Why Updating to the 2022 Specification Matters The digital landscape evolves quickly, with new technologies, cloud environments, and security threats constantly emerging. The ISO 27001:2022 update reflects these realities by incorporating modern practices for risk management, privacy, and resilience. Transitioning to the new version ensures our Information Security Management System (ISMS) remains aligned with today’s best practices and regulatory expectations. More importantly, it demonstrates our continued commitment to proactively safeguarding customer data, rather than simply meeting a compliance checkbox. What’s New in ISO 27001:2022 The updated 2022 specification introduces several key improvements over the 2013 version: Updated controls for today’s security landscape: 11 new controls were added, addressing areas like cloud services, data leakage prevention, threat intelligence, and secure coding practices. Simplified and modernized structure:  The control set was reduced from 114 to 93, grouped into four logical domains (Organizational, People, Physical, and Technological), making it easier to manage and communicate. Enhanced focus on continuous improvement:   The update places greater emphasis on regular risk assessment, performance metrics, and adaptability to evolving threats. Integration with other standards:   ISO 27001:2022 is designed to align more easily with complementary frameworks such as ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 27701 (privacy information management). How 55 Degrees Is Keeping Your Data Secure Security at 55 Degrees is not a one-time effort, it’s part of our company culture. Our certification journey ensures that every system, process, and team member contributes to maintaining trust and integrity in how we handle customer information. This certification applies across our entire organization, including the systems and processes behind ActionableAgile® Analytics, Portfolio Forecaster, and Inspekt, ensuring consistent, company-wide protection of your data. Here’s how we continue to uphold and strengthen that trust: Regular internal and external audits  to ensure compliance and uncover opportunities for improvement. Continuous monitoring  of systems and access controls to detect and respond to threats swiftly. Employee awareness and training  programs that ensure security best practices are embedded across all roles. Alignment with OWASP and SOC 2 Type II  frameworks to ensure both our software development and operational processes meet the highest standards. A Commitment That Grows With You Achieving ISO 27001:2022 certification is just one step in our ongoing journey to protect your data and uphold the highest standards of trust. Alongside this, 55 Degrees maintains a SOC 2 Type II attestation , validating that our controls for security, availability, and confidentiality are operating effectively over time. We’re also actively working toward DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act) compliance , ensuring that our operations continue to meet the resilience and risk management expectations of European regulators. Together, these frameworks reinforce our commitment to robust information security, operational resilience, and regulatory readiness. As threats evolve and standards rise, we’ll continue to strengthen our practices, so you can focus on your work knowing your data is in safe hands. Learn More About Our Security and Compliance Practices Transparency is one of our core values. To learn more about how we protect your data: Visit our Trust Page  for an overview of our approach to security, privacy, and compliance. Explore our Trust Center  — hosted by Vanta, for up-to-date certifications, policies, and compliance evidence.

Is your organisation ready for next-level agility? Many teams face challenges like maintaining alignment, navigating siloes, and adapting quickly to change. The right guidance and practical support can make all the difference. That’s where our partners, Automation Consultants , come in. For both new and existing customers, we’re happy to share a chance to book a free 30-minute Agile Maturity Consultation  with one of their experts. In this call, you’ll: Explore the challenges your teams are facing. Gain insights into what “agility” really looks like in practice. Understand whether a full Agile Maturity Assessment (AMA) could help take your organisation to the next level. The Agile Maturity Assessment itself pinpoints where agility can be strengthened—revealing opportunities for collaboration, efficiency, and business impact. It provides a structured, data-driven view of your current maturity level and delivers actionable recommendations to help you move forward. And with regular AMAs, organisations can track progress, measure success, and continuously adapt to evolving business demands. When combined with ActionableAgile Analytics, teams gain even deeper insights into their delivery performance by using flow metrics and probabilistic forecasting to complement maturity assessments and accelerate real improvement. "Automation Consultants helped us pinpoint exactly where we could improve, and their insights led to real measurable change in our team's performance" Senior Director of Software Engineering at British FinTech Business Ready to understand your Agile Maturity? Start with a free 30-minute consultation call. Register below.

This article is written in collaboration with 55 Degrees Partner, Spectrume Group UK . .   Recognised by Atlassian as a top-tier Platinum Solution Partner, with local teams in London and Cardiff. Spectrume Group UK make Atlassian tools work harder for your business, from licences and migrations to training and ongoing support. Setting the Scene Every team has felt it: ambitious deadlines, shifting priorities, and the pressure to deliver more with less. So what happens? Leaders and teams - keen to please, eager to say “yes” - commit to more than they realistically can. It’s not a flaw, it’s human nature.  Nobody wants to be the blocker, the one who says “no.” Optimism feels good in the moment, but without accurate forecasting it quietly becomes a trap. Work piles up, deadlines slip, stress levels rise, and trust begins to erode. That’s the Cycle of Doom : not caused by laziness or poor intent, but by teams trying their best without the data to back their promises. Breaking the Cycle Project managers, Scrum Masters, and Agile delivery leads know that accurate forecasting is critical to breaking this vicious loop of missed deadlines and lost trust. This is where 55 Degrees’ ActionableAgile® Analytics  changes the game. ActionableAgile® Analytics: Forecasting That’s Based on Reality Unlike Jira’s native reports , which are limited and often misleading, ActionableAgile uses your team’s historical delivery data to build probabilistic forecasts . Instead of pulling numbers out of thin air, the app runs thousands of simulations to show the most likely outcomes. You don’t just get one date, you get a range with confidence levels (e.g. 85% chance we’ll be done in 10 days ). Suddenly, planning stops being a guessing game and starts becoming credible in front of stakeholders. The app’s other insights include: Cycle Time Scatterplots : revealing how long work actually takes so you can set realistic Service Level Expectations. Aging Work-in-Progress charts : instantly flagging items that have been in progress too long and are likely causing delays. Flow Metrics dashboards : turning Jira data into clear, actionable insight for smarter planning. In short, ActionableAgile acts like a “virtual agile coach”, constantly showing where your process can improve and how likely you are to hit your targets. Why This Matters Most teams know the Cycle of Doom all too well. You promise a date, miss it, and suddenly planning meetings feel more like courtroom trials than collaborative sessions. By grounding commitments in probability-based forecasts, conversations shift: “We’re 95% confident this will be done in 10 days - and here’s the data to show it.” That kind of confidence is contagious. Stakeholders trust the numbers, teams stop firefighting, and delivery becomes predictable. Instead of a Cycle of Doom, you create a Cycle of Confidence . Where Spectrum UK Comes In ActionableAgile is a powerful tool - but tools only create value when they’re implemented and adopted well. That’s where Spectrum UK  adds impact. Configuration & Onboarding:  We integrate ActionableAgile into your Jira environment, tailoring dashboards and workflows to your reality. Agile Coaching:  We help teams shift from juggling work to finishing what matters, adopting Kanban-style practices that make the data meaningful. Project Build & Support:  From setup to ongoing optimisation, we make sure forecasting becomes actionable; a tool for clarity, not guesswork. Together, ActionableAgile + Spectrum UK  take forecasting from theory to daily practice. The Proof: When Tech Meets Expert Guidance When data-driven forecasting and expert implementation come together, the results are transformative: Predictability Becomes Real ActionableAgile : Wireless Logic  doubled sprint planning accuracy, improving stakeholder trust through predictability. Spectrum : SmartStream trusted us with a high-stakes Cloud migration of 400,000+ issues and 2,500 users, delivered on time, within 3 months, no downtime. Together: leaders can commit with confidence, and teams deliver without fear of overpromising. Complexity Simplified ActionableAgile : KFC  eliminated messy spreadsheets, absorbed a 36% surge in incoming work and boosted output by 16%. Spectrum : Studi merged multiple Jira instances into one streamlined Cloud platform, reducing costs and improving governance. Together: no more waste or duplication. Just a single, trusted system that everyone can rally behind. Faster Time-to-Value ActionableAgile : Sanofi  slashed time to production from 3 months to just 12 days - All within 3 months. Spectrum : Decathlon migrated 3,000+ Jira licenses to Cloud in 13 sprints - unlocking instant access to new features. Together: agility without disruption, smarter, faster delivery at scale. Confidence at Scale ActionableAgile : BNP Paribas  scaled probabilistic forecasting to 150+ teams, creating a common language for performance. Spectrum : Our fixed-price migrations for global enterprises proved that even the most complex transformations can be predictable and secure. Together: scalable change, without the chaos. Human-Centred Outcomes ActionableAgile : Teams build healthier habits - focusing on finishing work, not just starting more. Spectrum : Clients like Studi saw simplified workflows, improved adoption, and happier users after governance was tightened. Together: it’s not just about better systems, it’s about calmer, more confident teams. The Outcome With this combined approach, you don’t just hope  projects succeed, you plan and deliver with confidence. Leaders stop guessing. Teams stop overcommitting. Organisations finally break free from the Cycle of Doom. Want to see what this could look like for your team? Spectrum UK are offering a FREE 15-30 minute consultation  to assess your current setup, explore your goals, and identify the fastest path to improvement. No commitment. No pressure. Just a clear picture of where you are now, where you want to be, and how we can help you get there. Stop the Cycle of Doom with Spectrum UK + 55 Degrees. Ready to break free from the Cycle of Doom? This guide walks you through the types of forecasting traps your team might be guilty of and guidance on how to overcome them. Wouldn't it be nice to know you can deliver - not just hope?

As you migrate to Jira Cloud and bring ActionableAgile® Analytics along, our goal is to help you minimize downtime, preserve functionality, and make the most of everything Cloud has to offer. With Atlassian officially announcing the end-of-life for Jira Data Center, many teams are beginning to prepare their move to Cloud. While change can feel daunting, moving to Jira Cloud with ActionableAgile® Analytics gives you access to faster innovation, better integrations, and expanded automation capabilities, helping your teams work smarter and deliver more predictably. Atlassian’s Shift to Cloud: What You Need to Know Atlassian has announced that it will be  shifting its full focus to Cloud , gradually phasing out Data Center (DC) products until they reach  end of life on March 28, 2029 . We know many of you still rely heavily on Data Center today, and we’ve been following this transition closely. Here’s a breakdown of Atlassian’s current timeline and what it means for you: March 30, 2026  – Sales of new Data Center apps and subscriptions will end for new customers. March 30, 2028  – Last date for existing customers to purchase new Data Center licenses, Marketplace apps, or license expansions. March 28, 2029  – End of life for Data Center. All DC licenses and Marketplace app licenses will expire and become read-only. Until then, Atlassian will continue to provide  technical support, critical security bug fixes, and connectors  between Data Center and Cloud. After March 28, 2029, however, Data Center products and apps will no longer receive support or fixes. Renewals will be prorated to end on that date, and while Atlassian has mentioned that extended maintenance may be available, it would come at an additional cost and only in exceptional cases. What this means for you If your organization is still running on Data Center, you have time, but the countdown has officially begun. The earlier you begin preparing for Cloud, the smoother your transition will be. That’s why we’re focused on making sure we support you every step of the way—from planning and testing to migration and adoption. Why Moving to Jira Cloud Benefits Your Team When you migrate to Jira Cloud with ActionableAgile® Analytics, you’re not just preserving the analytics you rely on—you’re unlocking more opportunities for growth and efficiency. Some of the biggest benefits include: Faster access to new features  – Cloud customers always get the latest updates first, so you’ll benefit from enhancements without delay. Future-ready improvements  – Native integrations with Jira Cloud platform features give you more seamless workflows. Expanded automation and data handling  – Automate more of your processes and leverage smarter ways to manage your data. In short: moving to Cloud doesn’t just help you keep up—it helps you stay ahead Jira Cloud vs. Jira Data Center: What It Means for ActionableAgile® Analytics Area Moving to Jira Cloud Staying on Jira Data Center Feature Updates Get new features first, faster release cycles Limited updates, some new features won't be delivered to DC. Integrations Native integrations with Jira Cloud platform features for smoother workflows No new Atlassian-native integrations planned, limited ecosystem growth Automation & Data Handling Expanded automation options and improved data handling capabilities Current automation capabilities only, no major enhancements expected Support & Roadmap Atlassian is investing heavily in Cloud, with long-term improvements guaranteed Support continues until Atlassian's DC end-of-life, but innovation slows How We’ll Support You Migration can feel daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. You still have time, and starting early will help you avoid a last-minute crunch. The good news is ActionableAgile® Analytics on Cloud uses the same analysis model as Data Center, so your core data carries over seamlessly. Here’s how we’ll support you along the way: Ongoing updates – We’ll keep you informed as new features and support resources become available. Practical resources – A step-by-step migration guide is on the way to make planning easier and more predictable. Dedicated support – As a valued Data Center customer, you now have access to our Customer Success Program, designed to give you personalized guidance throughout your journey. You can connect with our Head of Customer Experience, Margaux Fiche, at margaux@55degrees.se  to start planning your path and explore how we can best support your transition. FAQs about migrating to Cloud with ActionableAgile® Analytics Here are answers to some of the most common questions we hear from teams preparing for migration. Will ActionableAgile® Analytics continue to support Jira Data Center? Yes. We will continue supporting Jira Data Center customers throughout Atlassian’s end-of-life timeline. Core updates such as charts, insights, and calculations will still be delivered. Why won’t all new features come to Data Center? Some features require extensive development and testing that are specific to the Data Center platform. With Atlassian planning to sunset Jira DC, it’s important for us to focus resources on updates that bring the greatest long-term value to customers across platforms. Which types of features are affected? Platform-dependent updates — such as native Jira dashboard gadgets or certain integrations with Jira internals — may not be delivered to Data Center. Instead, we’re prioritizing improvements to the ActionableAgile® Analytics experience itself, which will benefit both Data Center and Cloud users. What new improvements can I expect on Data Center? You will still see enhancements including: A new app landing page Data set views for easier navigation Consistent chart templates Expanded chart insights What if my team plans to move to Jira Cloud later? We will be ready to support you with a smooth transition when that time comes. ActionableAgile® Analytics for Jira Cloud includes the same core capabilities and ongoing innovation. Migration Planning Checklist To help you plan your transition, here’s a simple checklist to keep in mind: Step What to do Why it Matters Assess Review your current use of ActionableAgile® Analytics on Jira Data Center. Identify key datasets, saved configurations, and most-used charts. Ensures nothing critical is missed during migration. Plan Map out which features you rely on most. Check the FAQ for features that may differ between DC and Cloud. Helps set priorities and expectations. Trial Run Install ActionableAgile® Analytics for Jira Cloud in a test site. Import sample data and validate key reports. Gives your team a safe way to preview the Cloud experience. Prepare Data Work with your Jira admins to plan the DC → Cloud migration of Jira itself. Document how ActionableAgile® Analytics datasets will be recreated in Cloud. Ensures data continuity and minimizes disruption. Migrate Execute the Jira migration. Reconfigure datasets and saved views in ActionableAgile® Analytics for Cloud. Gets your production environment ready. Review & Validate Compare charts and insights between old DC reports and new Cloud reports. Confirm accuracy. Builds confidence and user trust in the new setup. Train & Adopt Introduce users to any new features available in Cloud. Provide quick guides or training sessions. Boosts adoption and helps teams take advantage of improvements. Migrating to Jira Cloud may feel like a big step, but with early planning and the right support, it's an opportunity to get the best out of ActionableAgile® Analytics. On cloud, you'll always have faster access to new features, deeper integrations with Atlassian platform, and expanded automation to make your workflows more efficient. We'll be with you every step of the way, helping you maintain continuity, unlock new value, and move forward with confidence. Whether you're ready to begin your move to Jira Cloud or just have questions along the way, we're here to support you. And if you're planning to move off Atlassian, let us know—we can help if you're moving to Azure or learn more about your next steps to better support you.  Reach out to us at support@55degrees.se

It's a feature you've been waiting for: ActionableAgile® Analytics charts in Jira Dashboards. 🎉 We’re excited to announce the release of  native Jira Cloud Dashboard Gadgets for ActionableAgile® Analytics — bringing your most valuable insights directly to the place where your teams already work:  Jira Cloud Dashboards. This launch is a game-changer for teams, leaders, and stakeholders who want instant visibility into flow metrics without switching tools or exporting data. Why This Matters Until now, sharing ActionableAgile® Analytics insights with a wider audience has not always been seamless. Teams often had to export charts or guide non-users into the app, which worked but added friction. With Jira Cloud dashboard gadgets, that barrier disappears. You can now: Share charts easily  with team members and stakeholders who don’t actively use ActionableAgile® Analytics. See live updates  whenever the dashboard is loaded — no need to export or refresh manually. Bring agile insights into context  by displaying them alongside other Jira data your team already tracks. In short, this feature brings  flow metrics visibility  to  everyone who needs it,  not just direct users. What’s Included in the First Release We’ve started with the  four most essential flow metric charts  — the ones you told us you rely on the most. Cycle Time Scatterplot Visualize how long work items take to complete. Spot trends, outliers, and opportunities for improvement. Aging Work In Progress Highlight work items that have been in progress the longest. Take action before aging tasks become blockers. WIP Run Chart Track how much work is in progress over time. Identify bottlenecks and manage workload more effectively. Throughput Run Chart See how many items your team completes per time period. Monitor delivery pace and forecast future performance. Together, these gadgets deliver a clear, accessible view of your team’s flow and predictability, right from the Jira dashboard. How It Works Adding these gadgets is quick and intuitive: Go to your Jira Dashboard. Search for  “ActionableAgile”  in the gadget search. Add the chart you’d like to display. In the configuration, choose the dataset and view settings you want. That’s it! 🚀 Your chart will now appear on your dashboard, updating automatically whenever you load the page. 💡  Note:  You can’t adjust full chart controls from the dashboard view — these are set by the chosen view in your dataset. To make sure your dashboard gadgets always look the way you want, just create and save a dashboard view in your dataset. You'll still be able to interact with some of the data displayed. Permissions and Access Editors  (those with permission to edit a dashboard) can add and configure ActionableAgile® Analytics gadgets. Viewers  can see the charts but cannot modify them. This ensures dashboards stay consistent while still giving everyone access to the insights they need. A Few Things to Know This release is available for  Jira Cloud only. Jira Data Center is not supported. We’re starting with four core charts, with more to come in future updates. Beyond new charts, we also plan to add insights from the chart data - giving you even deeper visibility and guidance right inside Jira. Why We’re Excited (And You Should Be Too) The release of Jira Cloud Dashboard Gadgets for ActionableAgile® Analytics is more than just a feature update — it’s a major step in making flow metrics a natural part of your team’s daily rhythm. By embedding these charts where your teams already collaborate, we’re eliminating barriers, strengthening transparency, and making it easier than ever to build predictability into your workflow. This has been one of our  most anticipated customer requests,  and we’re thrilled to finally deliver it. We can’t wait to see how your teams put it to use. If you’re on  Jira Cloud , the gadgets are available now. Head to your Jira Dashboard, search  ActionableAgile , and start adding your charts. Still Have Questions? We Can Help. We want to make sure you get the most out of this exciting new feature. Here are a few ways to get support and dive deeper: 📘 Additional Resources: Check out our  documentation  for step-by-step guidance on how to set up and configure your Jira Dashboard Gadgets. 💬 Chat Support: Have a question or run into a challenge? Our support team is ready to help with anything you need. support@55degree.se 🌍 Community: Join the conversation! Connect with other ActionableAgile® Analytics users, share your ideas, and learn from the experiences of teams around the world in our   community space.

We’re excited to share that ActionableAgile® Analytics for Jira Cloud has now been migrated to Forge Remote , Atlassian’s next-generation platform for Marketplace apps. While the change happens behind the scenes, it brings meaningful improvements for you: Improved security & compliance: Your data is now processed using Atlassian’s zero-trust Forge infrastructure, with automatic authentication and context handling. This ensures stronger safeguards without requiring extra setup on your part. Better reliability & performance: Forge’s serverless runtime scales automatically with usage, meaning fewer bottlenecks, faster responses, and more consistent uptime. Future-proof foundation: Atlassian has announced the deprecation of Connect. By moving now, we’re ahead of the curve, ensuring your app continues to run without disruption and remains compatible with Atlassian’s evolving cloud ecosystem. Faster innovation for you: Forge Remote gives us the best of both worlds: the security and simplicity of Forge, plus the flexibility of our own backend services. This means we can deliver new features and improvements more quickly. Most users are already upgraded automatically. If you're still using the old Connect version, simply press the upgrade button to move over.