Strategic driver allocation

The strategic driver allocation report can be used by a VP-level technology or portfolio executive who is responsible for ensuring that the planned strategic allocation of the work is aligned with the work the teams are actually doing.

For example, you planned to spend 25% of your efforts on expanding to new markets. However, this report can show that only 10% of your efforts this quarter are actually spent on expanding to new markets, meaning you are likely to miss your revenue targets.

To navigate to this report:

1. Select Portfolios or Programs in the top navigation bar and select the entity you want to view information about.

2. Select one Program increment from the sidebar. The report can show data from a single program increment.

3. On the sidebar, select Reports in the list of options.
4. Select Strategic driver allocation; the report displays.

Use and configure the report

The report uses strategic drivers, which can be customized inside dropdown platform settings. Once configured, set allocations for your strategic drivers each time a new program increment is created.

The charts on the report use strategic drivers selected on each epic, as well as estimates entered for an epic and its associated features and stories.

To view the report, one program increment must be selected in the sidebar. Data can only be viewed for a single program increment.

Understand values displayed on the report

Donut charts

At the top of the report are four donut charts:

• Program Increment allocation: A breakdown of the percentages allocated to each strategic driver for the selected program increment. Allocations are set from a program increment’s details panel.
• Epic estimate allocation: A breakdown of the number of points or team/member weeks planned for each strategic driver, based on estimates from each epic associated with the program increment. The total number of points or team/member weeks estimated for epics in the program increment is displayed in the center of the chart.
  • When the report is viewed from a portfolio context, epic estimates are calculated using the Program Increment estimate field on the forecast tab of each epic’s details panel.
    
  • When the report is viewed from a program context, epic estimates are calculated using the Program estimate field on the forecast tab of each epic’s details panel.
    
• Feature estimate allocation: A breakdown of the number of points or team/member weeks planned for each strategic driver, based on estimates from each feature associated with epics in the program increment. The total number of points or team/member weeks estimated for epics in the program increment is displayed in the center of the chart.
  • Features must be assigned to the program increment being viewed to have estimates included in this chart.
• Accepted story allocation: A breakdown of the number of story points accepted for each strategic driver, based on estimates from each story associated with epics in the program increment.
  • Estimates from stories in the unassigned backlog will be included when they are associated with the program increment being viewed.

List of epics

Beneath the pie charts, you can view the list of epics by strategic driver, along with statistics for each epic. Use the Strategic Driver dropdown to filter the list by a specific driver. Select the X to clear your selection. When All selected is displayed in the dropdown, epics without a strategic driver assignment will be included in the list.

Values for each epic include:

• Epic estimate (estimation system): The number of points or team/member weeks estimated for the epic, as entered on the epic’s details panel.
  • When the report is viewed from a portfolio context, epic estimates are calculated using the Program Increment estimate field on the forecast tab of each epic’s details panel.
    
  • When the report is viewed from a program context, epic estimates are calculated using the Program estimate field on the forecast tab of each epic’s details panel.
    
• Feature estimate (estimation system): The sum of points or team/member weeks estimated for features associated with the epic.
  • Features must be assigned to the program increment being viewed to have estimates included in the list.
• Story point estimate: The sum of story points estimated for stories associated with the epic.
  • When the report is viewed from a program context, the story must be assigned to the program being viewed to have estimates included.
• Accepted story points: The sum of story points from accepted stories associated with the epic.
  • When the report is viewed from a program context, the story must be assigned to the program being viewed to have estimates included.

Interpret the report

The strategic driver allocation report compares the planned and actual strategic allocation of the work for the selected PI. It is beneficial to review this report regularly to identify any negative trends early and allow for adjustments to be made.