Burnup Chart: Tracking Work Completed vs. Planned Scope
PMBOK v8 Definition
A burnup chart is a visual chart used mostly within adaptive development approaches to show project progress over time. The chart tracks the amount of work to be completed as a straight line across the top of the graph, while the work completed starts at zero and increases as more work is done. A burnup chart can track the amount of work done compared to the expected work that should be done, showing the number of story points completed or the amount of risk exposure that has been reduced.
Why It Matters for the Exam
The burnup chart appears frequently on the PMI exam in questions about adaptive/agile monitoring and control, progress tracking, and visual management tools. It is commonly tested in questions that require distinguishing between burnup and burndown charts, understanding which chart shows work completed versus work remaining, and recognizing how velocity is measured through these visual controls.
Key Points to Remember (for the exam)
- Primary Use: Shows work completed (rising line) compared to total planned work (straight line at top) over time
- Adaptive Focus: Used mostly within adaptive development approaches to show project progress
- Work Tracking: Starts at zero and increases as more work is completed
- Velocity Measurement: Can show project team velocity—the productivity rate at which deliverables are produced, validated, and accepted within a predefined interval
- Risk Reduction: Can also show the amount of risk exposure that has been reduced over time
- Common Confusion: Burnup charts show work DONE (rising from zero), while burndown charts show work REMAINING (falling from total)
- Visual Control: Part of the "burn charts" category alongside burndown charts
Typical PMI Exam Example
A project manager on an agile software development project wants to show stakeholders how much work the team has completed each sprint compared to the total scope. Which chart should the project manager use?
Answer: A burnup chart, because it tracks work completed (starting at zero and increasing) against the total planned work (straight line at the top).
PMI Exam Traps
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Trap: Confusing burnup with burndown charts
- Reality: Burnup shows work COMPLETED (line rises from zero); burndown shows work REMAINING (line falls from total)
-
Trap: Thinking burnup charts only track story points
- Reality: Burnup charts can also track risk exposure reduction, not just story points
-
Trap: Assuming burnup charts are for predictive/waterfall projects
- Reality: Burnup charts are used mostly within adaptive development approaches
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Trap: Confusing the straight line at the top with actual progress
- Reality: The straight line represents the TOTAL planned work, not progress; the rising line shows actual work completed
Important PMI Connections
| Related Concept | Relationship Type | Exam Attention Point |
|---|---|---|
| Burndown Chart | Complementary visual | Burnup = work done (rising); Burndown = work remaining (falling) |
| Velocity | Measurement output | Burnup charts can show team velocity rate |
| Iteration Burndown Chart | Adaptive planning variant | Iteration burndown tracks variance from ideal burndown within a single iteration |
| Visual Controls | Category | Burnup charts are a type of visual control for monitoring progress |
Quick Review Questions
- In a burnup chart, what does the straight line across the top of the graph represent?
- What is the key difference between a burnup chart and a burndown chart?
- Besides story points, what other project element can a burnup chart track?
- In which development approach are burnup charts used MOSTLY?
- How does a burnup chart relate to measuring team velocity?
PMBOK v8 Reference
Section 5.6 - Visual Controls and Burn Charts (Figure 5-26)