Hill charts

Hill chart examples

The same chart works for a small feature and a larger shaped project. What matters is that each dot represents a meaningful scope.

Feature delivery

A checkout redesign might begin uphill while validating the flow, cross the hill after a prototype settles the interaction, and move downhill through implementation.

Technical work

A migration can remain uphill until the team proves the data path and rollback plan. Once those are known, execution work can move downhill honestly.

Cross-team projects

Use one scope per outcome rather than one per person. Hillchart teams and epics help keep a shared view while attention signals call out work needing a decision.