How does cycle time differ from lead time?

Lead Time is the total time from the moment a task (e.g., requirement or user story) is received until its complete completion and delivery.

Cycle Time is the time the team actually spends working on the task, starting from the active development phase to its completion.

In simpler terms:

• Lead Time includes all stages: waiting, planning, development, testing, and delivery.
• Cycle Time is only the time spent actively working on the task.

For example, if a task was added to the backlog on the 1st, started development on the 5th, and was completed on the 10th, then:

• Lead Time = 10 - 1 = 9 days
• Cycle Time = 10 - 5 = 5 days

These metrics help analyze process efficiency and identify bottlenecks in development.