Introduction

  • 3 minutes

Effective project planning and agile work management are essential for successful software delivery. This module introduces you to two powerful platforms for agile planning: GitHub Projects and Azure Boards. You'll learn how these tools can work together to create seamless workflows between development and project management, enabling teams to plan, track, and deliver value more efficiently.

Real-world agile planning success

Modern software teams require flexible, collaborative tools that adapt to changing requirements. Microsoft's development teams use agile planning tools to coordinate thousands of developers across multiple teams and product groups, ensuring alignment while maintaining autonomy. Teams across Microsoft leverage Azure Boards integrated with GitHub to manage complex product portfolios spanning cloud services, productivity tools, and developer platforms, demonstrating the power of integrated agile planning at enterprise scale.

Why agile planning matters

Effective agile planning provides several key benefits:

  • Improved visibility: Stakeholders can see progress and upcoming work at a glance
  • Better collaboration: Teams can coordinate dependencies and share context
  • Faster delivery: Streamlined workflows reduce administrative overhead
  • Enhanced quality: Clear requirements and acceptance criteria reduce defects
  • Adaptive planning: Teams can respond quickly to changing priorities and feedback

Your learning journey

This comprehensive module will equip you with practical skills to implement agile planning using industry-leading tools. You'll learn both theoretical concepts and hands-on techniques through real-world scenarios and best practices.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

  • Compare and contrast GitHub Projects and Azure Boards capabilities and use cases
  • Integrate platforms by linking Azure Boards and GitHub for seamless workflows
  • Configure and optimize GitHub Projects and boards for team productivity
  • Customize views and workflows to match your team's specific needs
  • Implement feedback cycles and traceability for continuous improvement
  • Scale agile practices across multiple teams and portfolios

Self-assessment: Are you ready for agile planning?

Before diving into the tools, evaluate your current agile knowledge:

Agile Fundamentals

  • [ ] Do you understand basic agile principles and ceremonies?
  • [ ] Are you familiar with user stories, epics, and sprints?
  • [ ] Do you know the difference between Scrum and Kanban?

Tool Experience

  • [ ] Have you used any project management tools before?
  • [ ] Are you comfortable with GitHub repositories and issues?
  • [ ] Do you have experience with Azure DevOps services?

Team Context

  • [ ] Does your team follow agile methodologies?
  • [ ] Are you working with distributed or co-located teams?
  • [ ] Do you need to integrate with existing tools and processes?

Prerequisites

To get the most out of this module, you should have:

Essential Knowledge:

  • Understanding of DevOps concepts and principles
  • Basic familiarity with agile development practices
  • Knowledge of software development lifecycles

Helpful Experience:

  • Experience with version control principles (beneficial but not required)
  • Previous work in an organization that delivers software
  • Familiarity with project management concepts

Required Accounts and Setup:

  • GitHub account: Create one at GitHub.com if you don't have one
  • GitHub repository: You'll need a repository for hands-on exercises. See Creating a new repository
  • Azure DevOps organization (for Azure Boards exercises): Create one at Azure DevOps if needed