CAPM Practice Question: Project Management Fundamentals and Core Concepts
A project team using a Kanban board wants to predict when all remaining backlog items will be completed. Which metric is most useful for this prediction?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Cycle time
Cycle time measures the time from when work starts on an item until it is completed, providing a reliable basis for forecasting completion of items in a flow-based system like Kanban. Option C is correct. Velocity (A) is used in Scrum and is not directly applicable to Kanban's flow-based approach. Cumulative flow diagram (B) visualizes WIP and cycle time but does not directly predict completion as effectively as cycle time itself. Lead time (D) includes waiting time before work starts, making it less precise for predicting completion once work is in progress.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Velocity
Why it's wrong here
Velocity is a Scrum metric, not typically used in Kanban.
- ✗
Cumulative flow diagram
Why it's wrong here
CFD visualizes workflow but does not directly predict completion dates.
- ✓
Cycle time
Why this is correct
Cycle time measures the time to complete a task, useful for forecasting in Kanban.
- ✗
Lead time
Why it's wrong here
Lead time includes waiting time and is less precise for predicting completion of backlog items.
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