Flow Metrics

Active Time

Definition:

Active time refers to the amount of time a task is actively worked on, excluding waiting or idle periods. It reflects time spent adding value to the task.

How it’s calculated:

Active time = Sum of time periods during which the task is actively worked on.

Why it matters:

High active time compared to waiting time indicates that the team is focused on valuable work rather than being delayed or blocked.

How to improve:

Increase task ownership, reduce hand-offs, provide necessary resources early, and minimize interruptions to keep tasks moving forward without unnecessary delays.