Burn Down Chart VS Burn Up Chart

 

Criteria	Burn Down Chart	Burn Up Chart
Purpose	Tracks the remaining work or backlog items that need to be completed in a project.	Tracks the progress of completed work or backlog items over time.
Representation	Displays the remaining work as it decreases over time, typically with a downward trend.	Displays the completed work as it accumulates over time, usually with an upward trend.
Focus	Focuses on showing how much work is left to be done to achieve the project's goals.	Focuses on demonstrating how much work has been completed towards achieving project goals.
Y-Axis	Represents remaining work or backlog items.	Represents completed work or backlog items.
X-Axis	Represents time, typically in iterations or sprints.	Represents time, usually in iterations or sprints.
Interpretation	Ideally, the chart line should trend downwards towards zero as work is completed.	Ideally, the chart line should trend upwards, indicating progress towards completing the project goals.
Metrics	Tracks velocity, sprint progress, and helps in predicting project completion dates.	Tracks throughput, scope changes, and provides insights into project performance and delivery.
Usage	Widely used in Agile project management to monitor and manage sprint progress and project timelines.	Less commonly used but can provide additional insights into project progress and scope changes.
Visual Representation	Typically represented as a line chart with the y-axis indicating remaining work and the x-axis representing time.	Typically represented as a line chart with the y-axis indicating completed work and the x-axis representing time.
Scenario	Helps teams visualize and manage work remaining in a sprint or project, identifying potential bottlenecks and adjusting plans accordingly.	Useful for showcasing project progress to stakeholders, highlighting accomplishments, and managing scope changes.
Goal	The goal is to complete all remaining work by the end of the project or sprint, reaching zero backlog items.	The goal is to show steady progress towards completing all project requirements or backlog items, ideally reaching the target scope.