Final answer:
A cumulative flow diagram primarily shows work in process across a team and the time to complete features. It visualizes project workflow but does not directly demonstrate team capacity or the number of defects escaping to production.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question pertains to the utility of a cumulative flow diagram, which is a tool used in project management and software development to visualize the workflow of a project across time. This type of diagram can show various aspects of a project's progress, but typically, it is most effective in displaying work in process across a team. The diagram consists of multiple colored bands that correspond to different stages in the workflow, such as "To Do," "In Progress," and "Done."
By observing the thickness of the bands, stakeholders can understand how much work is currently being undertaken (Work in Process), which reflects the capacity of the team and potential bottlenecks. It can also be used to gauge the time to complete a feature by looking at the length of the band over the time axis. Although a cumulative flow diagram provides a wealth of information regarding workflow and process, it does not directly illustrate details such as team capacity or the number of defects that escape to production; these insights require different tools or specific annotations within the cumulative flow diagram.