Hill charts

Hill charts vs. percentage bars

Percentage bars imply a smooth, measurable path. Knowledge work usually has a discovery phase where the path itself is the open question.

Percentages flatten context

A 60% label cannot say whether the hardest question has been answered. It often rewards optimistic reporting because a number is expected.

Hills show the work state

Uphill and downhill positions make the key distinction explicit: are we still solving the problem, or are we executing an understood plan?

Use both when needed

A delivery metric can still be useful for operational work. For shaped product scopes, use the hill chart to discuss certainty and blockers alongside the timeline.