> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.hivel.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.hivel.ai/faqs/metrics-and-data-faqs/how-is-unaccounted-work-calculated-and-how-to-address-it.md).

# How is unaccounted work calculated and how to address it?

## 📌 Understanding Unaccounted Work in Hivel

**Unaccounted work** in Hivel refers to pull requests (PRs) that are not linked to any Jira ticket. When this happens, teams lose visibility and traceability, which affects planning, reporting, and accountability.

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### ✅ What Qualifies as Accounted Work?

A PR is **accounted** only if:

1. It includes a valid Jira ticket ID in one of the following locations:
   * PR **title**
   * PR **description**
   * PR **source branch name**
2. The referenced Jira ticket:
   * Belongs to the **current** or a **past sprint**

> 🛑 **Backlog or future sprint tickets do not count** — they aren’t considered active work.

If **either** condition is not met, the PR is flagged as **unaccounted** in Hivel.

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### 📉 Why Unaccounted Work Matters

Unaccounted work introduces several problems for teams:

* **Reduced visibility**: PRs without ticket tags don’t appear in ticket-based execution or estimate comparisons.
* **Loss of accountability**: It’s unclear what task or business value the work contributes to.

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### 🛠️ How to Fix Unaccounted Work

Here’s how your team can reduce or eliminate unaccounted PRs:

#### 1. Tag Jira Tickets Consistently

* Always include the correct Jira ticket ID in the **title**, **description**, or **branch name** of your PRs.

#### 2. Create a Ticket if None Exists

* If the work hasn’t been ticketed:
  * Coordinate with your **Jira board owner** to create a ticket in the **current sprint**.
  * This ensures the work is visible and aligned with sprint goals.

#### 3. Use the Unaccounted Work Filter in Hivel

* Navigate to the **PRs screen in Hivel**
* Use the **“Unaccounted Work”** filter to:
  * Identify PRs missing ticket references
  * Drive conversations around engineering hygiene

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### 🔁 Example Scenario

| PR Title                        | Jira Ticket  | Sprint           | Accounted? |
| ------------------------------- | ------------ | ---------------- | ---------- |
| `Fix login bug`                 | ❌ None       | N/A              | ❌ No       |
| `HIV-1234: Add auth middleware` | ✅ `HIV-1234` | ✅ Current sprint | ✅ Yes      |
| `Hotfix: Remove debug logs`     | ✅ `HIV-5678` | ❌ Backlog        | ❌ No       |

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