---
title: "Forecasting with an Increasing Capacity"
canonical: "https://support.55degrees.se/space/SP/3964864244/Forecasting%20with%20an%20Increasing%20Capacity"
format: markdown
---
When teams grow, get temporary help, or remove bottlenecks, it’s natural to assume **"we’ll go faster."** But how much faster? And will that improvement start today, or later?

Portfolio Forecaster helps you test these assumptions with data, before making promises.

> ℹ️ In the scenario below, we define capacity as the ability to finish work at the current rate (your throughput). Higher capacity means “finishing work at a higher rate than usual”


> Macro (toc)

## Scenario 1: What if we hire additional team members?

A capacity of 100 indicates full utilization, a capacity of 140 suggests that the anticipated throughput will exceed the usual levels by 40%


### Results

The forecast has improved, and some epics are forecasted to be completed months before the previously forecast date. However, this forecast does not consider the ramp-up time for new employees to learn the tools and processes, the possibility that they might not all start at the same time, or the possibility that some experienced team members might go on leave or vacation. 

This scenario enables us to identify potential impacts of adding team members and increasing the throughput. However, 4 new members do not necessarily mean a 40% increase; this is an estimate, and the reality could be very different! The throughput might actually decrease first during the onboarding of these new members and then would increase once they are up to speed with the processes.


> ℹ️ It is essential to keep in mind that the estimated 40% increase in throughput is merely an approximation and may not be entirely accurate. Relying on this figure could result in the team either overplanning or underplanning.
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ Scenario planning is designed to help you visualize potential outcomes through "what if" scenarios, especially as summer approaches and team members begin to take vacations. Your actual capacity should be reflected in your *real* data. A forecast that does not account for any adjustments should accurately represent your current situation.

 

## How to export the forecast