Shape Up hill charts

See uncertainty, not an invented percentage

A task can be 80% complete and still contain its hardest unknown. A hill chart makes that uncertainty visible: scopes move uphill while the team investigates, cross the top when the approach is understood, and move downhill during execution.

A shared language for progress

Place every scope on the hill and discuss its position instead of debating a percentage. The left side represents unknowns; the right side represents work the team understands how to finish.

Because each scope moves independently, a project can show confident execution in one area and unresolved questions in another.

Update the chart as understanding changes

Drag scopes along the curve when the team learns something meaningful. Hillchart keeps the chart focused on the current state rather than turning every small task into reporting overhead.

  • Split work into meaningful scopes
  • Move a scope when uncertainty changes
  • Use the chart to guide the next project conversation

Designed around Shape Up cycles

Group related scopes into epics, assign owners, and filter the hill when you need a narrower view. Snapshots and timeline history preserve the story of the cycle without changing how the hill itself works.