Create and manage agile projects

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 4 minutes to read
  • Summarize
    Summarized using AI
    This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete.

    Summary of Create and manage agile projects

    This guide outlines the essential tasks for creating and managing agile projects within ServiceNow’s Zurich release. It covers setting up development groups, creating sprints and projects, managing project phases, planning sprints, and handling testing processes, enabling customers to effectively organize and track agile work.

    Show full answer Show less

    Set up Development Groups

    • Define an Agile group: Navigate to Agile Development > Create Agile Group and create a new group.
    • Add group members: Edit the Group members related list on the group form.
    • Set group capacity: Specify capacity in points via Agile Development > Groups by selecting the group.

    Create and Manage Sprints

    • Create sprints: Use the Create Sprints related link on the group form to add multiple sprints or the Sprints related list for individual sprints.
    • View sprints: Access via the Sprints related list on the group form.

    Create and Open Projects

    • Create a project: Navigate to Project > Projects > Create New or Project Workspace and click New Project.
    • Open existing projects: Use the Project Workspace related link on the Project form or select from Project Workspace header.

    Add and Manage Project Phases

    • Add agile or test phases: From the project workbench, click the Add phase icon and select Agile (requires both Project Portfolio Management and Agile Development 2.0) or Test phases (requires Test Management 2.0).
    • View and assign groups to phases: Use list or VTB views; assign groups via the Agile phase’s Group field.
    • Select sprints for agile phases: Set start and end sprints after assigning groups.
    • Create and refine stories: Create new stories within Agile phases and manage stories via the Manage Stories dialog or related links on the Project or Group forms.

    Add Milestones

    • Add milestones through the Add phase icon in the project workbench by selecting Milestone.

    Plan Sprints

    • Access sprint planning via Agile Development > Groups, open the group, and use the Sprint Planning link.
    • Add stories to sprints directly from the sprint planning interface.

    Testing Process

    Two testing workflows are supported based on activated Test Management versions:

    • Test Management 1.0: Create test plans, add test cases, assign testers, notify testers to start, testers perform tests via Self-Service, monitor progress on test forms, and complete sign-off.
    • Test Management 2.0: Create test execution suites, add tests, assign ready-state tests to testers, and testers perform tests via Test Management 2.0 > Tests Assigned to me.

    This functionality supports end-to-end agile project management and testing coordination, enhancing project visibility 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 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.