How to Calculate Lead Time & Cycle Time
Simple workflow instructions for Agile/Kanban metrics:
Input Creation Date
Select when the ticket or feature request was first logged in the backlog.
Set Dev Start Date
Choose when an engineer actively pulled the ticket into "In Progress".
Input Delivery Date
Select when the item was deployed to production or marked "Done".
Measure Efficiency
Instantly obtain Process Cycle Efficiency (PCE %) and eliminate backlog bottlenecks.
Key Metrics Comparison
Lead Time
Measures customer experience from initial request date to final product delivery.
Cycle Time
Measures internal engineering throughput speed from work start to finish.
Process Cycle Efficiency (PCE)
Calculates percentage of total lead time spent actively adding customer value (PCE = Value Add Time / Lead Time × 100).
Frequently Asked Questions
?What is the difference between Lead Time and Cycle Time?
Lead Time begins the moment a feature request is created by a user or product owner. Cycle Time only starts when active work begins on that ticket.