velocity

This term is distinct from speed because it accounts for direction. While speed is a scalar quantity measuring how fast an object moves, velocity is a vector, meaning it describes both the rate of motion and the specific path taken. In scientific and engineering contexts, changing direction means changing velocity even if the speed remains constant. In a business or software development context, the word has been adopted to describe the rate at which a team completes work during a specific period. Here, it reflects productivity and capacity rather than physical movement, serving as a metric to predict future delivery timelines based on past performance.