What does work item age refer to?

Work item age refers to the time active items have been in progress. This metric is critical in performance measurement as it provides insights into how long a specific work item has been under active development or consideration since it started.

Understanding work item age helps teams identify bottlenecks and manage their workflow effectively. It enables teams to assess if they are on track to meet deadlines and allows for the reflection on process efficiency. Monitoring the age of work items aids in better resource allocation and prioritization, ensuring that items that are taking longer than expected can receive the needed attention.

In this context, although the other options might provide relevant information about overall process durations or timelines, they do not specifically capture the essence of "work item age" as the time active items have been in progress. Thus, the focus on the active phase of work gives teams the ability to improve their delivery and operational efficiency.