Create and manage agile projects

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated August 1, 2024
  • 4 minutes to read
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    Summary of Create and Manage Agile Projects

    This guide provides step-by-step instructions for ServiceNow customers to efficiently create and manage agile projects within the platform. It covers essential tasks from setting up development groups, creating sprints and projects, to managing project phases, planning sprints, and handling testing processes. Leveraging these capabilities helps teams organize work, track progress, and ensure quality through integrated test management.

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    Setting Up Agile Projects

    • Define an Agile group: Navigate to Agile Development > Create Agile Group and create a new group.
    • Add group members: Edit members in the Group form’s related list.
    • Set group capacity: Specify capacity points under Agile Development > Groups.
    • Create sprints: Use the Group form’s related links to create and view individual or multiple sprints.
    • Create or open projects: Create new projects via Project > Projects or open existing projects through the Project Workspace.

    Managing Project Phases and Details

    • Add phases: From the project workbench, add Agile or Test phases (requires specific applications installed).
    • Assign groups and sprints: Link an Agile group and select start/end sprints within the Agile phase setup.
    • Create and refine stories: Add new stories directly in the Agile phase and manage story backlogs either per project or across multiple projects.
    • Add milestones: Milestones can be added via the Add Phase option to track key project goals.

    Sprint Planning

    • Access sprint planning through Agile Development > Groups and use the Sprint Planning link to start planning.
    • Add stories to sprints directly during sprint planning to organize work effectively.

    Testing Processes

    Testing workflows differ based on the Test Management version activated:

    • Test Management 1.0: Create test plans, add test cases, assign testers, notify testers to start, monitor progress, and complete sign-off via related links and Self-Service portals.
    • Test Management 2.0: Create test execution suites, add tests, assign tests to testers (only tests in Ready state), testers run tests via assigned tests interface, and submit results.

    Practical Benefits

    By following these structured tasks, ServiceNow customers can effectively organize agile teams, manage project cycles, track progress through sprints and milestones, and integrate testing to ensure quality delivery. This structured approach supports Agile best practices within the ServiceNow platform, enabling better project visibility, collaboration, and control.

    An overview of the tasks involved in creating an agile project.

    The following tables, arranged by task group, list the tasks involved in creating an agile project.

    Table 1. Set up a development group
    Task How do I do this?
    Define an Agile group Navigate to Agile Development > Create Agile Group and click New.
    Add group members Navigate to the Group members related list on the Group form and click Edit.
    Decide the capacity of a group Navigate to Agile Development > Groups, select the desired group, and enter a number in the Group capacity (points) field.
    Table 2. Create sprints
    Task How do I do this?
    Create a sprint Use the Create Sprints related link on the Group form to create multiple sprints or use the Sprints related list to create individual sprints.
    View the created sprints Use the Sprints related list on the Group form.
    Table 3. Create a new project
    Task How do I do this?
    Create a project
    • Navigate to Project > Projects > Create New.
    • Navigate to Project > Projects > Project Workspace and click New Project.
    Table 4. Open an existing project
    Task How do I do this?
    Open an existing project
    • Click the Project Workspace related link on the Project form.
    • Navigate to Project > Projects > Project Workspace and select the project from the Select Projects choice list in the workspace header.
    Table 5. Add phases to a project from the project workbench
    Task How do I do this?
    Create an agile phase for a project Click the Add phase icon (screenshot for add phase icon) and select Agile from the Phase Type choice list.
    Note:
    This option appears only when both the Project Portfolio Management and Agile Development 2.0 applications are installed.
    Create a test phase for a project Click the Add phase icon (screenshot for add phase icon) and select Test from the Phase Type choice list.
    Note:
    This option appears only when both the Project Portfolio Management and Test Management 2.0 applications are installed.
    Table 6. Add details to a project phase from the project workbench
    Task How do I do this?
    View phase details in list view or VTB Click the List or VTB button in the project workbench header.
    Assign a group to an agile phase Edit the Agile phase and select a group in the Group field.
    Select sprints for an agile phase Edit the Agile phase, ensure that a group has been assigned, and select a Start Sprint and End Sprint.
    Create stories for an agile phase Click the Agile phase in the project workbench and click New in the detail view header.
    Refine stories for one project Click the Manage Stories button to open the Manage Stories dialog box.
    Note:
    You can also use the Agile Planning & Tracking related link on the Project form to view your backlog, assign stories to the projects, or create new stories for the project.
    Refine stories across multiple projects Click the Manage Stories related link on Group form.
    Assign a group to an agile phase Click the Agile phase edit icon and select the group from the Group choice list.
    Table 7. Add milestones to a project from the project workbench
    Task How do I do this?
    Add milestones to a project Click the Add phase icon (Add phase icon) and then click Milestone at the top of the Add Phase pop-up window.
    Table 8. Plan sprints
    Task How do I do this?
    Start sprint planning Navigate to Agile Development > Groups, open the desired group, and click the Sprint Planning related link.
    Add stories to the sprint Navigate to Agile Development > Groups, open the desired group, click the Sprint Planning related link, and click Create story.
    Table 9. Testing process ( Only when Test Management 1.0 is activated)
    Task How do I do this?
    Create a test plan Navigate to Test Management > Test Execution > Test Plans > New.
    Add test cases to a test plan Click the Add Test Cases from Test Suite related link on the Test Plan form.
    Assign test cases to testers Select a user in the Assigned to field on the Test Case form.
    Notify testers to start testing Click the Notify testers to start testing related link on the Test Plan form.
    Tester performs tests and submits results Navigate to Self-Service > My Tests or Self-Service > My Assessments.
    Monitor the testing progress The Test Plans list, Test Plan form, and Test Case form all display results for test cases and individual tests.
    Testing sign-off Click the Sign-off Test Plan related link on Test Plan form.
    Table 10. Testing process (Only when Test Management 2.0 is activated)
    Task How do I do this?
    Create a test execution suite Navigate to Test Management 2.0 > Test Execution Suites, and click New.
    Add tests to a test execution suite Open a test execution suite, and click Add tests. From the Tests list, select the required tests and click Add to Execution Suite.
    Assign tests to testers Open a test execution suite. In the Test execution assignments related list, assign tests to testers.
    Note:
    Only the tests in the Ready state can be assigned.
    Tester performs tests and submits results Navigate to Test Management 2.0 > Tests Assigned to me. Select the required tests and click Run.