On April 18th, we had a full house during our discussion on Agile methodologies and a concrete implementation with Telerik TeamPulse. We were overwhelmed with the queries put forth by the attendees. If you would like to review the presentation, we have provided the same below:
And if you are someone who wants to stay ahead of the curve in the Agile space, we have some breaking news. A preview of the next version of TeamPulse (TeamPulse R1 2013) is now available as public Beta. Feel free to take a look if you are interested: http://bit.ly/tp-demo
The FAQs from the webinar are as follows:
Q: on which platform it should work?
A: It will work on any platform. It is web application running in browser. Some screens are not supported on mobile devices as of now.
Q: The properties – are they customizable…can we add / modify / or delete?
A: Certain properties for the requirements are customizable for example you can change what appears in the drop downs for Maturity, Certainty, etc. You cannot change the names of the labels. This is done by modifying the project template.
Q: can we track multiple projects at the same time?
A. We offer a cross project view that allows you to track multiple projects
Q: can PO be the BA ?
A. PO is responsible for:
- Maintaining the backlog
- Representing client interests in the Scrum team and get buy ins from various stakeholders
If BA can accomplish the above two, he/ she can act as PO too. Generally, PO is someone from the client side.
Q: is it mandatory to use TFS with the Team pulse?
A: TeamPulse can be used as a stand alone too. It is not necessary to use TFS for project management. If you have already invested in TFS – you can integrate with it.
Q: so where i have to use agile?
A: Where to use Agile – its up to you and your team. Agile is developmen methodology that industry is leaning to. Short sprints i.e. ideally a 15 days to 30 day sprints, where you work on a requirement and make sure you finish it to a done state. so its upto you if you want to go the Agile way or Waterfall model.
Q: what is TFS??
A: Microsoft Team Foundation Server – a source control from Microsoft ~Lohith
Q: even for new product there is a backlog..?
A: Can you please elaborate on this ?
Q: is the sprint scope defined by Scrum master or PO?
A: The sprint scope should be decided by the team based on their capability. It is important to know your team velocity so that you can deliver what you can promise. Buy in from PO is important too. Scrum Master is there to facilitate things.
Q: is some kind of automated integration available in teampulse for other telerik products?
A: TeamPulse integrates beautifully with Telerik Test Studio for bug management. While TeamPulse is built using Telerik controls, the cross project view is built using Kendo UI.
Audience Question:
Q: why the product backlog decided in the begining of the project??
A: In Agile Methodology – you identify the requirements or user stories upfront and create a log of that. That simply put becomes product backlog and once you achieve all the backlogs – you will have built your product. so thats why you define your requirements upfront. Thats one of the core agaile principles.
Q: please listout some scrum metrics
A. We offer burn down reports, velocity reports for individual projects and across projects. We also offer timesheet views and productivity views for individual team members.
Q: Do we have any video sessions for the Team Pulse?
A: We have what we call – Telerik TV – http://tv.telerik.com/products/teampulse. Here you can find short focused videos done by evangelists. This is a free public site. no registration required.
Q: Is there any option to track the retrospective out comes? so the team and scrum master can ensure that the retrospective points are addressed.
A. We have issues and risk to track retrospective outcomes
Q: Could Scrum be implemented in production support project?
A. While Scrum can be used in production support projects, Kanban is frequently used for this. TeamPulse can be used for managing Kanban projects as well.
Q: how we manage if task cannot be completed in a given sprint?
A: If the task hasn’t been started, the task should be assigned to the next iteration.
Q: can we do a migration from TFS 2012 to teampulse?
A: Yes we can. We now support TFS. take a look at this : http://www.telerik.com/agile-project-management-tools/tour/integrations.aspx
Q: Do you have some sort of mechanism to mark the user story as broken when a bug is associated to an user story?
A. Yes, it is displayed on the board that there is a bug or blocking bug. If blocking it will identified by red colored icon.
Q: if that is a new project….even then we have the backlog?
A: Yes. normally you will start with a product backlog. Then pull items to sprint backlog.
Q: how the roles will be assigned and mapped to each project ?
A. TeamPulse offers built in groups and the ability create new custom group. Such custom groups can be assigned the desired permissions in a project.
Q: We know in an agile environment, we need to respond to changes. What kind of change management process to be implemented for cost control?
A. None currently.
Q: looks like tfs can do pretty much all of these things. What advantages does this have over TFS?
A: TFS cannot give you metrics in terms of charting/gauging. You need Reporting Services along with it. And customization of those reports are not easy. TFS was not built as a project management tool – its more of a source control and task maintenance. With TeamPulse you can do project management and get health of multiple projects in one shot – which is not possible with TFS. If you are already invested in TFS, we add value as a complement to TFS rather than as a replacement. More features can be read here http://www.telerik.com/agile-project-management-tools/tour/overview.aspx
Q: Does it have some sort of notification to the task owner if any associated issues/Impediment is resolved by the scrum master? or the scrum master will get the update?
A. He can through our notification system but he will need to configure what types of notifications to receive. There are some limitations.
Q: agile is a framework?
A: Yes, it is a framework as it makes recommendations. Scrum and Kanban are specific implementations of this framework.
Q: How about the interface to manage the issue management – if we are using some other tool on the same?
A: At the moment we support only integration with TFS.
Q: Can we use Teampulse for teams working across geographies?
A: Yes. TeamPulse is an ideal solution for such teams. This is a web application and so anybody can log in from anywhere. However, the teams needs to understand the Scrum process well.
Q: What database the TeamPuse connects with?
A. MS SQL Server 2008 or above. SQL express is also supported
Q: In the test management, there was one topic called traceability. What is it?
A: Traceability lets you trace different things like for a bug – in which sprint was it logged, what was the check in against that bug, which backlog item was that .. etc.
Q: When you create a task i could see Given, When and Then statements in it. Does it have any support to BDD?
A. No, the only BDD like item that provide is our acceptance criteria for stories and bugs but not on the task level.
Q: What all support does it have for the process compliance? do we have any reports specific for the quality delivery group?
A. None
Q: Can we do a migration of data from JIRA/TFS 2012 to teampulse?
A: At the moment we support only TFS.
Q: How can priority be assigned to a task?
A. You set priorities by dragging and dropping the order they should be completed in. So, a task on the top of the list gets more priority than the one of the bottom. While creating your Sprint backlog, it is important to start looking from the top.
Q: Is there any metric to measure regression caused in a sprint?
A. None
Q: how do we maintain the hierarchy of user roles? Do we have any such hierarchy?
A. With Personal you can link them to specific relationships
Q: Can we configure the list of work items that need to be completed as part of a user story? This is just for tracking its completion?
A. Yes through creating Tasks in a user story.
Q: Does TeamPulse integrate with JIRA?
A: At the moment no. We have integration with TFS only.
Q: do we have a desktop plugin version of this tool ? some environments may not have access outside intranet?
A. It’s a web application that is self-hosted on your server. So, the access can be restricted to the sub-set of people you desire.
Q: Can we handle restricted story points? Visible only to specific people?
A. No. All stories are visible to all team members. One of the key tenants of Agile is transparency throughout the team.
Q: once an epic is split into sprintable units, what do you do with the original epic? Do you keep it with the stories until all are done? Do you retire them into some kind of epic archive? Do you just delete them?
A. No, we can only show the relationship
Q: Can I check resource assignments using team pulse…like resource utilization etc?
A: Yes. we give you resource utilization metrics built on time sheets.
Q: How would we arrive at the velocity of the team?
A: Tam Velocity = Story or Tasks completed in a sprint
Q: the project status looks cool. Burn down chart is a really nice addon over TFS.
A: Thank you. Glad you like it.
Q: Is project manager and team leads both can see how many release are planned for particular month?
A: Yes.
Q: Does Teampulse comes with Tereik Test studio or similar?
A: TeamPulse is a separate product from Telerik. So it has a separate license. http://www.telerik.com/agile-project-management-tools/pricing-and-licensing.aspx ! http://www.telerik.com/agile-project-management-tools/pricing-and-licensing.aspx
Q: Is Team pulse compatible with Jira/ Clearcase/ Clearquest?
A: TeamPulse currently integrates with TFS.
Q: Where does the tool store all its metadata? Does it work on client-server relationship?
A. All data is stored on the SQL Database, a local XAP file is cache locally but no meta data is passed and stored in session
Q: Will developer daily need to update the story board?
A: As a best agile practice – you should burn your days hours. 🙂
Q: Is teampulse accessible via internet?
A: You can have a trial version of TeamPulse hosted by us for 30 days. You can quickly set it up at: http://telerik.com/agile-project-management-tools/try-now.aspx
Currently there is no SaaS offering available.
Q: can we assign the tasks to individuals in Teampulse.
A: Yes.
Q: Didnt see a log where we can have the daily meeting minutes entered so that it can be reviewed and the end of the sprint?
A. All requirements have a comments area that is threaded and could be used for this purpose
Q: Can we handle multiple project? and multple team?
A: Yes. we support cross project views. meaning – as a manager you can set up your dashboards to see health of more than 1 project.
Q: I believe the key behind agile is having all the learning experience documented for future reference and better sprint planning do we have any such features here?
A. Issues can be have a resolutions added to them and associated with a time line such as iteration or simply tag for future retrieval.
Q: How to login access to tempulse?
A: Currently, TeamPulse is a self hosted solution. It can be integrated with your Active Directory environment or can have separate login credentials.
Q: Project Management Reports is export them as PDF, Excel ?
A: Yes
Q: is it multilingual? can it be used in other language like spanish ?
A. No. Although comments, user stories etc can be put in any language. You can only localize our feedback portal.
Q: what are the process template available in Teampluse?
A. Scrum for Team System v 2 and 3, MS Agile, CMMI and Scrum and our own TeamPulse template You also have the ability to change any template.
Q: Does it support Kanban dashboard?
A: yes. WIP is supported.
Q: is the api available for teampulse?
A. Only for time tracking and an Odata layer for the rest of the application
Q: As a Customer can a person log a bug or enhancement by Email in TeamPulse?
A: Not by default. However, integration points are available.
API for time tracking as well TFS sync and hook from our testing suite Test Studio to capture acceptance criteria
If you have scrolled down to read this, you are obviously looking for the winners of the cool Telerik T-Shirt. Though we had only planned for 2 giveaways, we felt humbled by the engagement during the webinar. We have decided to giveaway 5 T-Shirts for this webinar. We are pleased to announce the winners of the same as the below:
- Suman Chatterhee, Symphony
- Suresh Subramanian, CTS
- Harris Vincent, CSC
- Jayachandran P, CTS
- Salil Bhatnagar
The winners have been contacted directly and the prize will be shipped to them shortly.
Feel free to post your query in the comments section below.
Helping Ninja Technologists 