Velocity

Velocity is a planning and forecasting metric — not a performance metric. It helps teams predict how much work they can commit to in future Sprints based on historical throughput. Velocity stabilises after 3-5 Sprints as the team establishes a consistent cadence. It should never be used to compare teams or pressure teams to increase output. Factors that affect velocity include team composition changes, technical debt, Sprint length changes, and the complexity of work in the backlog.