Your team is in dire need of Agile project management software. Which one do you choose?

There's no single 'best' Agile tool for all engineering teams. In the past, I've employed a high-level framework to find the right fit: Shortlist software aligning with your needs and budget. The best-suited subscription models are based on either the number of projects or users. Try free trials or demos to grasp the interface and features; if possible, experiment with dummy data. Gather feedback from your team and make decisions collectively. Jira excels with Agile methods like Scrum and Kanban, ideal for backlog, planning, and reporting. It seamlessly integrates with Bitbucket, Azure DevOps, and Confluence. Trello is card based & simple, for small teams, while Asana suits medium teams.Choose based on size and project complexity.

I’ve used Trello in the past and currently using Jira. Trello is easier to use and works well with smaller Teams. Jira serves the purpose for complex projects as it integrates flawlessly with GitHub, Bitbucket, Sonarqube, Slack, Confluence and much more. You can choose Agile methodologies like Scrum or Kanban with Jira depending upon the team needs.

I always suggest using the simplest tool that works for your needs! Too many teams get caught up in the tool aspect of agile that they try to retrofit the way they work to match a tool. When your team is new, first learn how you’re going to work and use a simple sticky note system or tool. Once you’ve practiced that way and learned to rely on team conversations over a tool, you can discuss as a team what you need an agile tool to do and how it will enhance how your team works, not change the way you work!

I think Azure Devops board (Az-Do) serves the purpose. Additionally if service now can be integrated with the Az-do board, we can easily keep track of everything at one place whether it is production changes or the amount of re-work and complexity for a particular work

It’s very important to select tools that fit the process you need to adhere to, and not bend your process to fit a toolset. And has been said, there’s no “perfect” toolset…find something that works for 80% of your needs and figure the other 20% out however you can. Don’t let the tools overtake the process itself!

One thing I love about JIRA is how easy it is to learn. While it has complicated features that can require months of training, it has a lot of simpler options as well. From backlog management to ticket statuses and project timelines, I personally found JIRA to be the easiest and quickest system to pick up, especially over others such as Azure DevOps.

Another perspective could emphasize the significance of support and training options for the software. Beyond ease of use, consider the availability of resources like documentation, tutorials, and responsive customer support. A user-friendly software combined with robust support mechanisms ensures a smoother onboarding process and ongoing assistance when users encounter challenges, contributing to a more positive overall experience with the software.

Look for purpose-built tools. Many tools were not created as agile tools. While many team-level people can make them work for smaller projects, the tools were never meant to be used across large organizations. They do not roll up data well so leaders have no more insight than they did when they used waterfall. The day-to-day visibility a real agile tool can provide is needed for technical leaders to know what is happening in the groups they manage. Leaders need to see defect density & tech debt. They should be able to use analytics to see how much teams have completed quarter over quarter to know if there is too much being asked of their organizations. Teams and leaders need to know how predictable, productive, and responsive the teams are.

User Experience and Interface: - A user-friendly interface can enhance productivity. - Consider the learning curve for team members. - Customization options for workflows and dashboards.

Kanban, jira, and Trello are always a win. Functionality matters a lot but so does the user interface. It won't be a great deal if it takes forever to train a person rather than spending the same amount of time on a project.

This is a broad and subjective question. The truth is,choosing the best agile project management software depends on needs, organization size, team preference, etc. However, some examples of cost-effective options include Jira, Trello, and Asana. Jira offers customization, Trello provides simplicity, and Asana combines flexibility with user-friendly features. Each has its strengths, so the choice depends on your team's preferences and project requirements. If cost must be low as possible, ClickUp is a good option. I recently advised several local tech start-ups who are all boot strapping. I got their teams going on the free version of ClickUp. They are happy and will use it until scaling demands that they spend money.

Cost wise some simple board where we can enumerate the list of things to be done, list of things where we are working and items that are completed.

Cost and Value: - Evaluate the cost of the software and any associated licensing fees. - Consider the value in terms of features provided. - Look for scalability options as your team grows.

Cost and value in Agile project management involves considering the budgeted cost of work, earned value, and actual cost. Project managers use these metrics to calculate cost variance, schedule variance, and estimate to completion. It's important to take into account organizational policies, knowledge management, hybrid approach, and earned value management when managing project costs. Agile contracts can also be developed using time and materials, outcome-based, or fixed contracts. Evaluating the cost and value factors can help ensure that the Agile project management software is cost-effective and delivers value to the team.

Some of the considerations to ensure ROI are understanding what are your must-have functionalities, security, road map, and support model. Reference checks are equally important. When evaluating tools and their value, use a matrix for scoring to help compare and make an informed decision.

User documentation and training materials should be presented in Confluence Software for in house applications. Jira Service Desk (JSD) is a supporting tool integrated with the product to give quick response to the customers. Web portal is used for Go&Live activities and announcement for the new features with the release package to inform customers about the solution application

Support and community in Agile project management involves creating a community of project managers who can support each other and share knowledge and best practices. This can be achieved through the formation of a Project Management Community within the organization. However, there may be blockers to adopting such a community, such as concerns about distracting employees from their core activities. To overcome these blockers, it's important to evaluate them and develop high-level responses or approaches for each. Additionally, the value and benefit of having a Project Management Community should be captured and communicated to the organization.

Look for - - What kind of support is offered (email, phone, live chat, knowledge base)? - Are there active user forums, documentation, and training materials available? - How is the customer reviews, look for online reviews and case studies to understand user experiences.

My best experience with outstanding community support has been with Jira. It's easy and quick to become a part of its community. No matter what your question is about the software, the community is always ready to help. In terms of community support, Jira really stands out.

Software for agile project management should be intuitive and team members should not need support or documentation. Motivating oneself to work is hindered by this, and eventually, goals are delayed.

Agile isn't a methodology. It's a set of values and principles. Really, take a look at the agile manifesto! Methods describe process. Agile is not a process

É muito improvável que duas empresas, por mais semelhantes que sejam, funcionem perfeitamente bem com o mesmíssimo processo. Uma das premissas do Manifesto Ágil é: adaptar-se às mudanças mais do que seguir um plano. É fundamental que os gestores tenham: pleno domínio dos processos internos; clara visão dos ajustes que serão necessários; e coragem pra mudar o plano. Sem isso, a empresa estará apenas gastando com ferramentas e licenças caras. Não existe uma "bala de prata".

Right selection of agile methodology is imperative to the success of project, it also depends on organisation structure, freedom to adopt new methods and team’s expertise and experience in agile. There is not a ‘one size fits all’ solution and it depends on all the above factors. Selecting the best methods and their advantages to create a custom method is usually beneficial.

Alignment and fit in Agile project management involves ensuring that the project aligns with the organization's goals and objectives. This can be achieved by evaluating the project's scope and ensuring that it aligns with the organization's strategic plan. It's also important to consider the fit of the Agile methodology with the organization's culture and values. This can be achieved by involving stakeholders in the decision-making process and ensuring that they understand the benefits of Agile project management. Evaluating the alignment and fit factors can help ensure that the project is successful and delivers value to the organization.

It's crucial for a team to embrace an agile mindset before choosing any tool. Tools empower a team's goals and vision. Selecting a tool that aligns with your team's dynamics is essential for success.

I would restate one of the values of Manifesto for Agile Software Development - “Individuals and interactions over processes and tools.” I don't ever see teams in "dire need" of agile project management tool or solution. Could be an inconvinience at most. Communication is key. If that is ok than let's discuss tooling. A plain whiteboard with stickies will some times do more than a software solution for most of the time. So don't get carried away by the tooling - that will change. Good communication practices are here to stay.

Un gran problema con el uso de herramientas de gestión suele ser la búsqueda de una estandarización extrema y el peligro de un control excesivo. Lo importante al elegir una herramienta debería ser las necesidades del equipo, entendiendo que todos los equipos deberían tener la facultad de decidir con qué trabajar, ya sea un tablero físico, Trello, ScrumDo, etc. Lo relevante no es la herramienta en sí, sino cómo ayuda a mejorar al equipo. En la prisa por adoptar una etiqueta "ágil" para todo, muchas organizaciones priorizan tener una herramienta por encima de las necesidades reales y su utilidad para los equipos.

There is not one software that covers the whole project management techniques so looking at team size and amount of work the organisation have choose the best option for example if the team size is small with less work load and not too many organizational processes the choose a trial free version or may be create an in house tool as per use. If the team is big and has loads of work then do choose and buy the best tool to make the PMs work a little easier. If not then create your own in house tool as per use.

I don't think it really matters. If the team is in 'dire need' of something this fundamental then there is almost certainly some underlying organisational issue. Address the cause of the problem rather than the symptoms themselves. And while you're doing that use a spreadsheet or whatever tool is already available. It's not going to make anything worse.

- Integration: Ensure compatibility with existing tools (e.g., version control, communication tools). - Scalability: Check if the software can scale with your team's growth. - Security: Verify the security measures in place for protecting your data. - Mobile Access: Consider the availability of mobile apps for on-the-go access. - Trial Period: Opt for tools that offer a trial period for hands-on evaluation.