Age Calculation Methods
The Age Calculation Method is the most important configuration decision in WIP Aging. It controls what "age" means for each issue - and different methods give very different numbers.
All 5 Methods
| Method | What It Measures | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Time since last entry in current status | How long the issue has been in its current status continuously | Standard "how long in this status right now" |
| Sum of all time in current status | Total accumulated time in this status, including all previous visits | Issues that bounce back - counts every re-entry |
| Sum of all time in category of current status | Total time across all statuses in the same category (e.g., all "In Progress" statuses) | Category-level aging, Cycle Time proxy |
| Time since first entry in current status category | Clock starts from the very first time the issue entered this category | Lead time from category start |
| Time since work item creation | How long since the issue was created - regardless of current status | Total issue age, oldest backlog items |
Choosing the Right Method
For daily standup: Use Method 1 (time since last entry). It answers "how long has this been sitting here right now?" - the most actionable question for a team discussion.
For rework detection: Use Method 2 (sum of all time). If an issue keeps bouncing back to "In Review", this method accumulates all that time and reveals the real cost.
For Cycle Time monitoring: Use Method 3 (category sum). Measures total active working time regardless of which specific "In Progress" status the issue is in.
For backlog hygiene: Use Method 5 (time since creation). Immediately shows which items have been sitting in the backlog for months.
Age Display Units
| Option | Default |
|---|---|
| Days | ✓ Default |
| Hours | For short-lived workflows |
| Minutes | For very fast-moving processes |
Weekend Exclusion
By default, age is measured in calendar time - every hour counts, including nights and weekends.
Enable Exclude Weekends to skip Saturday and Sunday. An issue that sat untouched over a 3-day weekend will not accumulate those days against its age.
Use this when your SLA commitments are stated in business days.
Scope Options
| Option | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Include Sub-Tasks | Whether sub-tasks appear as individual dots on the chart |
| Include "To Do" Category Items | Include statuses in the "To Do" workflow category (off by default - WIP Aging is normally for in-progress work only) |