Throughput
Also called: delivery rate, processing rate, output rate
ELI5
How many items the system finishes.
Used in conversation
“Throughput rose without increasing work in progress.”
Definition
The number of work items completed during a period.
Here “Throughput” means: The number of work items completed during a period.
Pitch context
You will see “Throughput” in product strategy decks, roadmaps, experiments and architecture reviews when the discussion reaches agile & scrum delivery.
Why it matters: In agile & scrum delivery, different calculation boundaries, periods or accounting treatments can change the number and the decision.
Caution
Calculation, recognition and disclosure can vary by accounting framework, company policy and reporting context.
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See how pitch.dog can helpSources & evidence · 9
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- Scrum Guides — The Scrum Guide — official current versionDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- National Institute of Standards and Technology — Computer Security Resource Center GlossaryDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- IFRS Foundation — IFRS GlossaryDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Productivity programmeDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- Financial Accounting Standards Board — FASB Accounting Standards CodificationSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Small Business Administration — Break-even pointSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Non-GAAP Financial Measures — Compliance and Disclosure InterpretationsSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Acquisition.gov — Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 15 — Contracting by NegotiationSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- UK Government — Groceries Supply Code of PracticeSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16