---
title: "Health Score Metrics"
canonical: "https://help.releasemanagement.app/space/WIHC/3908534363/Health%20Score%20Metrics"
format: markdown
---
> Macro (include)

---

**Applies to: Jira Cloud**

**Last updated: 2026-04-27**

This page explains Jira issue health score metrics used by Work Items Health Check for Jira Cloud. It covers how grades are calculated from weighted metrics like cycle time, lead time, flow efficiency, blocked time, due date risk, sprint health, linked issues, and reassignment stability.

> Macro (toc)

- **Use this page to:**
- 
  - Understand how the overall issue health grade (A–D) is calculated
  - See definitions, formulas, and thresholds for each health metric
  - Learn how metric weights influence the overall grade
  - Interpret N/A (not applicable) metrics correctly across teams
- **Key takeaways:**
- 
  - The overall grade is a weighted average of applicable metrics
  - Metrics marked N/A are excluded from the calculation
  - Due Date Check and Sprint Health have the highest default weight (5 each)
  - Time-based metrics highlight bottlenecks and delivery risks

# Overview

Issue Health Score provides a comprehensive, at-a-glance assessment of every work item in your Jira project. Each issue receives an overall grade (A through D) derived from a set of weighted parameters that evaluate flow efficiency, time tracking, dates and milestones, sprint discipline, and more.

The goal is to surface risks early, highlight bottlenecks, and give teams a shared language for discussing issue quality without manual triage.

# How Grading Works

## Grade Scale

Every parameter produces one of four grades:

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Numeric Value**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Meaning**</span> |
| --- | --- | --- |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A**</span> | 1 | Healthy — no action needed |
| **B** | 2 | Caution — monitor closely |
| **C** | 3 | At risk — intervention recommended |
| <span style="color: #bf2600">**D**</span> | 5 | Critical — immediate action required |

## Overall Grade Calculation

The overall grade is the **weighted average** of all applicable parameter scores, converted back to a letter grade.

**Formula:**

```
Overall Score = Σ (Parameter Score × Weight) / Σ (Weights)
```

The resulting number is rounded to the nearest whole number and mapped back to a grade.

**Example:**

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Parameter**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Score**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Weight**</span> |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cycle Time | <span style="color: #006644">**A**</span> | 1 | 2 |
| Lead Time | **B** | 2 | 2 |
| Due Date | **C** | 3 | 5 |
| Sprint Health | <span style="color: #bf2600">**D**</span> | 1 | 5 |

```
(1×2 + 2×2 + 3×5 + 1×5) / (2 + 2 + 5 + 5) = 26 / 14 = 1.86 → Rounded to 2 → Grade B
```

> **Note:** If a parameter is not applicable to an issue (e.g. no due date is set), it is excluded from both the numerator and the denominator.

# Health Score Metrics

## Cycle Time Metric

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Name**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Value**</span> |
| --- | --- |
| **Weight** | 2 |
| **Definition** | Total time spent in **In Progress** statuses (`statusCategory = "In Progress"`). |
| **Metric displayed** | Cycle time duration |

**Grades:**

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> |
| --- | --- |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A**</span> | Less than 24 hours |
| **B** | 24–48 hours |
| **C** | 48–120 hours |
| <span style="color: #bf2600">**D**</span> | 120+ hours |

## Lead Time Metric

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Name**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Value**</span> |
| --- | --- |
| **Weight** | 2 |
| **Definition** | Time from issue creation to the current date (if still open) or to the last transition into a **Done** status (`statusCategory = "Done"`). |
| **Metric displayed** | Lead time duration |

**Grades:**

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> |
| --- | --- |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A**</span> | Less than 1 week |
| **B** | 1–2 weeks |
| **C** | 2–4 weeks |
| <span style="color: #bf2600">**D**</span> | 4+ weeks |

## Flow Efficiency Metric

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Name**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Value**</span> |
| --- | --- |
| **Weight** | 2 |
| **Definition** | Ratio of productive in-progress time to total lead time, excluding impediment time. |
| **Formula** | `(Time in Yellow − Impediment Time in Yellow) / Lead Time × 100%` |
| **Metric displayed** | Flow efficiency percentage |

**Grades:**

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> |
| --- | --- |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A**</span> | 90%+ |
| **B** | 80–90% |
| **C** | 60–80% |
| <span style="color: #bf2600">**D**</span> | Below 60% |

## Returns Metric

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Name**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Value**</span> |
| --- | --- |
| **Weight** | 2 |
| **Definition** | Number of times an issue has been moved back to a previously visited status. |
| **Metric displayed** | Number of returns per status (only statuses with returns > 0 are shown) |

**Grades:**

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> |
| --- | --- |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A**</span> | 0 returns |
| **B** | Less than 2 |
| **C** | 2–5 |
| <span style="color: #bf2600">**D**</span> | 5+ |

## Time in Blocked Status Metric

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Name**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Value**</span> |
| --- | --- |
| **Weight** | 2 |
| **Definition** | Total duration the impediment flag was set or the issue was in a "Blocked" status. Administrators can configure which statuses count as blocked. |
| **Metric displayed** | Time in blocked status with the comment/reason for each blocking period |

**Grades:**

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> |
| --- | --- |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A**</span> | Less than 24 hours |
| **B** | 24–36 hours |
| **C** | 36–48 hours |
| <span style="color: #bf2600">**D**</span> | 48+ hours |

## Due Date Check Metric

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Name**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Value**</span> |
| --- | --- |
| **Weight** | 5 |
| **Definition** | Evaluates the relationship between the current date, the due date, and the issue's status category. If no due date is set, this parameter is excluded from the score. |
| **Metric displayed** | Days until/past due date |

**Status categories used:**

- 🔵 **Blue** = To Do (`statusCategory = "To Do"`)
- 🟡 **Yellow** = In Progress (`statusCategory = "In Progress"`)
- 🟢 **Green** = Done (`statusCategory = "Done"`)

### Grade A — On Track

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Sub-grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Status**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Hint**</span> |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A.1**</span> | 🟢 Green | Due date ≤ date of last transition to Green | Completed before due date. |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A.2**</span> | 🟡 Yellow / Other | Due date − today > 1 day | In progress with sufficient time remaining. |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A.3**</span> | 🔵 Blue | Due date − today > 2 days | Not started but due date is comfortably ahead. |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A.4**</span> | 🟡 Yellow / Other | Due date − today = 1 day | In progress — due tomorrow, still on track. |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A.5**</span> | 🔵 Blue | Due date − today = 2 days | Not started — due in 2 days, still acceptable. |

### Grade B — At Risk

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Sub-grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Status**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Hint**</span> |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **B.1** | 🟡 Yellow | Due date = today | In progress but due today — delivery at risk. |
| **B.2** | 🔵 Blue | Due date − today = 1 day | Not started and due tomorrow. |

### Grade C — Overdue (Minor)

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Sub-grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Status**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Hint**</span> |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **C.1** | 🔵 Blue | Due date = today | Not started and due today — delivery very unlikely. |
| **C.2** | 🟡 Yellow / Other | Due date = today − 1 day | In progress but overdue by one day. |
| **C.3** | 🔵 Blue | Due date = today − 1 day | Not started and overdue by one day. |
| **C.4** | 🟢 Green | Due date = last Green transition + 1 day | Completed but overdue by one day. |

### Grade D — Critical

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Sub-grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Status**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Hint**</span> |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| <span style="color: #006644">**D.1**</span> | ≠ 🟢 Green | Due date ≤ today − 2 days | Overdue by 2+ days — immediate action required. |
| <span style="color: #006644">**D.2**</span> | 🟢 Green | Due date = last Green transition + 2 days or more | Completed but overdue by 2+ days. |

## Work Log Overdue Metric

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Name**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Value**</span> |
| --- | --- |
| **Weight** | 2 |
| **Definition** | Compares time spent (plus remaining estimate) against the original estimate. |
| **Formula** | `Burn Rate = Time Spent / Original Estimate × 100%` |
| **Metric displayed** | `(Time Spent + Remaining Estimate) / Original Estimate × 100%` |

### Grade A — On Track

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Sub-grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Hint**</span> |
| --- | --- | --- |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A.1**</span> | (Time Spent + Remaining) ≤ Original Estimate **AND** Burn Rate < 95% | Within budget, healthy burn rate. |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A.2**</span> | Time Spent = 0 **AND** Original Estimate > 0 | No time logged yet — item is planned. |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A.3**</span> | Status = Done **AND** Remaining Estimate = 0 | Complete — delivery outcome determines grade. |

### Grade B — Nearing Limit

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Sub-grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Hint**</span> |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **B** | (Time Spent + Remaining) ≤ Original Estimate **AND** Burn Rate ≥ 95% | Most of the estimate consumed — risk of overrun. |

> Boundary note: Lower bound is inclusive (≥ 0.95). With consistent data the ratio cannot exceed 1.0 while the budget condition holds.

### Grade C — Over Budget

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Sub-grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Hint**</span> |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **C** | (Time Spent + Remaining) > Original Estimate **AND** Burn Rate ≥ 100% **AND** Burn Rate < 120% | Over budget by up to 20%. |

> Boundary note: Lower bound inclusive (≥ 1.0), upper bound strict (< 1.2).

### Grade D — Severely Over Budget

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Sub-grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Hint**</span> |
| --- | --- | --- |
| <span style="color: #bf2600">**D**</span> | (Time Spent + Remaining) > Original Estimate **AND** Burn Rate ≥ 120% | Over budget by 20% or more. |

## Sprint Health Metric

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Name**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Value**</span> |
| --- | --- |
| **Weight** | 5 |
| **Definition** | Evaluates sprint commitment discipline. Applies only if the item was added to a sprint at least once; otherwise marked N/A. |

### Grade A — Healthy

| <span style="color: #006644">**Sub-grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Hint**</span> |
| --- | --- | --- |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A.1**</span> | Added before sprint start, completed within sprint window, sprint is Closed. | Delivered on time. |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A.2**</span> | Added before sprint start, sprint is Active, status is In Progress, sprint ends in > 2 days, move count = 0. | In progress with enough time. |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A.3**</span> | Added before sprint start, sprint is Future, not moved or removed. | Correctly committed to upcoming sprint. |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A.4**</span> | Added before sprint start, sprint is Active, status is To Do, sprint ends in > 2 days, move count = 0. | Not started but enough time remains. |

### Grade B — Caution

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Sub-grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Hint**</span> |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **B.1** | Added before sprint start, sprint is Active, status is To Do, sprint ends in ≤ 2 days, move count = 0. | Sprint nearly over, item untouched. |
| **B.2** | Sprint is Active, item added or removed after sprint start. | Sprint scope changed mid-flight. |
| **B.3** | Move count = 1. | Carried over once — monitor closely. |
| **B.4** | Status was Done when added before sprint start. | Pre-completed item — verify if intentional. |

### Grade C — At Risk

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Sub-grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Hint**</span> |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **C.1** | Status is Done, completion date is after sprint end, sprint is Closed. | Delivered late. |
| **C.2** | Move count = 2 or 3. | Repeatedly deferred. |

### Grade D — Critical

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Sub-grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Hint**</span> |
| --- | --- | --- |
| <span style="color: #bf2600">**D.1**</span> | Sprint is Closed, status ≠ Done, move count = 0. | Unfinished and unaccounted for — triage required. |
| <span style="color: #bf2600">**D.2**</span> | Status ≠ Done, sprint end date has passed, sprint is not Closed. | Sprint overdue, item still incomplete. |
| <span style="color: #bf2600">**D.3**</span> | Move count ≥ 4. | Chronic carry-over — escalation or de-scoping needed. |

## Linked Issues Metric

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Name**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Value**</span> |
| --- | --- |
| **Weight** | 2 |
| **Definition** | Evaluates the status of linked issues, with special attention to blocking relationships. |
| **Metric displayed** | Number of linked issues |

**Grades:**

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> |
| --- | --- |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A**</span> | No linked items, or all linked items are in Done status. |
| **B** | At least one link to an incomplete work item (no blocking links). |
| **C** | At least one **inward blocking link** to an incomplete work item. |
| <span style="color: #bf2600">**D**</span> | Two or more **inward blocking links** to incomplete work items. |

## Reassignment Check Metric

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Name**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Value**</span> |
| --- | --- |
| **Weight** | 2 |
| **Definition** | Tracks how many times the work item has been reassigned. The initial assignment is not counted as a reassignment. |
| **Metric displayed** | Number of reassignments (initial assignment excluded) |

**Grades:**

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Grade**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Condition**</span> |
| --- | --- |
| <span style="color: #006644">**A**</span> | Assignee present, task is In Progress or Done, reassigned fewer than 3 times **OR** assignee is empty and task is in To Do. |
| **B** | Assignee present, task is In Progress or Done, reassigned more than 3 times. |
| **C** | Task is In Progress, never assigned **OR** reassigned more than 5 times. |
| <span style="color: #bf2600">**D**</span> | Task is Done and was never assigned. |

# Overall Weight Reference

| <span style="color: #ffffff">**Parameter**</span> | <span style="color: #ffffff">**Weight**</span> |
| --- | --- |
| Cycle Time | 2 |
| Lead Time | 2 |
| Flow Efficiency | 2 |
| Returns | 2 |
| Time in Blocked Status | 2 |
| Work Log Overdue | 2 |
| Due Date Check | 5 |
| Sprint Health | 5 |
| Linked Issues | 2 |
| Reassignment Check | 2 |

**Total weight (all parameters applicable):** 26

> Due Date Check and Sprint Health carry the highest weight (5 each), reflecting their outsized impact on delivery predictability.

> Macro (include)