What is the difference between "lead time" and "cycle time" in flow-based (e.g., Kanban) metrics?
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Incorrect.
The correct answer is A) Lead time measures the total elapsed time from when a work item is requested (enters the backlog) until delivered; cycle time measures only the time from when active work begins on the item until completion, excluding backlog wait time
Correct Answer
Lead time measures the total elapsed time from when a work item is requested (enters the backlog) until delivered; cycle time measures only the time from when active work begins on the item until completion, excluding backlog wait time
Lead time reflects the customer's perspective (total wait time for a request), while cycle time reflects the team's processing efficiency once work begins — both are useful for identifying different types of delays in a delivery pipeline.