Managing Projects Using Azure Boards

Azure DevOps provides a set of cloud-hosted tools that software teams can use as an end-to-end
solution to plan, develop, test, and deliver value in the form of working software. Azure Boards
enable an agile team to plan, track, and discuss work across the entire development effort. This one day course will demonstrate how an agile team can configure and use Azure Boards effectively. To maximize learning, students will work in teams, in a common team project, on a common case study.

Who should take this class?

This course is appropriate for all members of a software development team, especially those who are actively involved with creating and refining a product backlog as well as planning and executing work within a sprint. This course will also provide value for individuals outside the development team (managers, Scrum Masters, coaches, and other stakeholders) who want hands-on exposure to the capabilities of Azure Boards.
Having some project management and software development experience, either as a team member or as a manager, is recommended. Experience with Agile software development, Scrum, and Visual Studio are also helpful, but not required. Attendees should read and be familiar with the Scrum Guide prior to class.

Course content

This course contains several modules, progressively explaining how to use Azure Boards to plan, track, and manage an agile software development effort.

INTRODUCTION TO AZURE BOARDS

Azure DevOps Services overview

Azure Boards overview

The team project

Creating and configuring a team project

Securing a team project

Teams, profiles, and notifications

Extending Azure Boards

Creating and using a Wiki

Hands-on

THE PRODUCT BACKLOG

Process overview

Working with the backlog

Product Backlog Item vs. Bug work item type

Features and Epics backlogs

Decomposing large item

Kanban board

Tagging, querying, and charting work items

Hands-on

PLANNING AND MANAGING A SPRINT

Setting up a new sprint

Forecasting work in the backlog

The sprint backlog

Creating a sprint plan

The Task work item type

The Test Case work item type

Working with the Task Board

Collaborating as a team

Daily activities

Implementing a definition of “Done”

Completing a sprint

Splitting an unfinished item

Hands-on