Absence Rates Sprint Capacity (Annual) Calculator FAQ
Answers to common questions about estimating annual team hours, absence impact, productive time, and sprint capacity.
Use these questions and answers to understand the inputs, calculations, assumptions, and practical interpretation of absence-adjusted team capacity estimates.
General capacity planning questions
Basic questions about what the calculator estimates and when to use it.
What does the Absence Rates Sprint Capacity (Annual) Calculator estimate?
It estimates planned annual team hours after expected absence and converts that annual estimate into an average available capacity per sprint.
Who can use this calculator?
It can be used by delivery teams, project groups, managers, and planners who need a high-level estimate of available work time.
Is the result a staffing forecast?
No. It is a capacity-planning estimate based on the inputs entered, not a forecast of staffing needs or performance.
What is annual planned capacity?
It is the team’s scheduled annual hours before absence is deducted.
Inputs and calculation method
Questions about the values entered and the steps used to produce results.
How are annual planned hours calculated?
Team size is multiplied by working days per person and productive hours per working day.
How are absence hours calculated?
Annual planned hours are multiplied by the expected absence rate as a percentage.
How are sprints per year estimated?
Working days per person are divided by sprint length in weeks multiplied by five working days.
How is average sprint capacity calculated?
Annual available hours are divided by the estimated number of sprints in the year.
What should I enter for productive hours per day?
Enter the average time normally available for planned delivery work after routine non-delivery commitments you want to exclude.
Absence rates and planned time off
Questions about interpreting absence and avoiding double counting.
What should be included in the absence rate?
Use the rate for the unplanned absence your planning approach expects, such as sickness or other unplanned time away.
Should annual leave be included in the absence rate?
Usually not if it has already been removed by reducing working days per person. Use a consistent approach so time off is not counted twice.
Can the absence rate be zero?
Yes, but the result then represents scheduled capacity without an allowance for unplanned absence.
Does the calculator assume that everyone has the same absence rate?
Yes. It applies one average rate across all included team capacity.
Accuracy and interpretation
Questions about why actual delivery capacity may differ from the estimate.
Will every sprint have the calculated average capacity?
No. Absence and workload vary by sprint. The sprint result is an annual average for planning.
Does the calculator include meetings and training?
Not separately. Reduce productive hours per day if you want your estimate to allow for those activities.
Does it account for different skills or role coverage?
No. It measures hours, not whether the right skills are available at the right time.
How can I improve the estimate?
Use recent team data, separate groups with substantially different schedules, and update the inputs when working patterns change.
How is annual available capacity calculated?
Annual planned hours are reduced by the expected absence percentage.
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