Supercharge Your Azure DevOps Workflow with the Feature Deliverable Extension

Sometimes, even in an Agile environment, we need to assess the risks that a development requires.

During the Software Development Life Cycle, some questions must usually be asked, especially at the Epics and Features level.

In most cases, an Excel questionnaire is presented. The product owner or project manager must evaluate the impact of the changes.

As projects grow more complex, teams can struggle to track and organize each feature effectively. That’s where the Feature Deliverable Extension by Agile Coaching Solutions steps in — helping you transform complexity into clarity within Azure DevOps.

This post is not about the technical aspect of the extension. However, the source code is under MIT Licence, so it is free, and you have some technical elements explained on the Feature Deliverable Extension page.

What is the Feature Deliverable Extension?

The Feature Deliverable Extension is a specialized add-on for Azure DevOps designed to enhance work item management. It introduces a new tab that displays deliverables associated with each work item. This extension is handy for teams that need to track the progress of features and epics, ensuring that all deliverables are accounted for and completed on time.

The initiative was to track specific deliverables, such as Test Plans, Test Cases, Architecture reviews, solution blueprints, etc., depending on the complexity of the project or changes to the Risk Assessment questionnaire.

To follow these steps in Excel, I have written this extension to have the questionnaire inside the different work items in Azure DevOps.

Key Features

1. Deliverables Tracking: This extension’s primary function is to provide a clear and concise view of the deliverables linked to a work item. This feature is invaluable for project managers and developers who must keep track of multiple tasks and ensure that nothing slips through the cracks.
2. Integration with Azure Boards: The extension seamlessly integrates with Azure Boards, allowing teams to manage their backlogs, sprints, and work items more efficiently. Adding a dedicated tab for deliverables enhances the existing functionality of Azure Boards, making it easier to monitor progress and identify bottlenecks.
3. Customizable Views: Users can customize the views to suit their needs, ensuring that the most relevant information is always at their fingertips. This capability is crucial for teams with unique workflows that require tailored solutions.
4. Enhanced Collaboration: The extension fosters better collaboration among team members by providing a centralised location for deliverables. Everyone can see the status of deliverables in real time, reducing the need for constant updates and meetings.

Let’s see how it works

• Set up a new custom field, “AnswersField” (Will hold the questionary answers) & “RoleAssignmentsField” (Will have the role & responsibilities for the RACI table) in a process; this field can be hidden from the work item type.

• I have also created three new pages in the sample below that will use the ad-hoc contribution.

1. SDLC, which will present the questionnaire inside the work Item form
2. RACI will be used to assign roles and responsibilities to each deliverable.
3. RACI table, which will show the actual RACI Table

The custom fields that need to be added to AnswersField will hold the answers related to the questionnaire in JSON format.

RoleAssignmentField keeps track of the roles and responsibilities related to the questionnaire, which is also stored in JSON format.

Custom fields are a convenient way to store information. In our case, they can be set as non-visible, as they should not be updated manually. However, the advantage of using custom fields is that they can be retrieved later via APIs or collected through the OData protocol and used, for example, in PowerBI reporting.

For each page, select the corresponding contribution:

So, the extension comprises several contributions supporting the different areas.

Under the SDLC page, I have added the Deliverable Control and under a second group, the Progress Indicator.

Under the RACI page, as you can imagine, you will need to add the RACI Control shown below

The same applies to the RACI table contribution to the RACI TABLE page.

When done, you must set your first list of deliverables related to the Azure Project inside the Project Setting in Azure DevOps, as shown below.

You can set the answer for each deliverable as a path to a folder or URL, a work ID for the test case, or a boolean value, such as “done” or “not done.”

Next, a set of questions will be assigned to those deliverables. Please note that some questions may require any deliverable.

People might be lazy, especially developers. ☺️
I also decided to provide the possibility of creating a hierarchy of work items with one click. Below is a sample of a possible setup, and I will explain how it is used later.

Finally, the last step is to define a list of Roles that might be involved

Case study, or how do we use it now?

Usually, when a new change is requested, especially if it is relatively significant, it is a good practice to set an Epic work item.

This is where the One-click to create the hierarchy could actually be used.

Now that the initial feature as a child of Epic has been created, you can go to the SDLC TAB.

In this case, the first question, called in my case “Default Control”, is the minimum requirement that needs to be provided.

So, when checked, it is expected to provide the path to the Solution Blueprint, ensure that component tests have been done, etc.

Now, it is time to assign roles and responsibilities for each deliverable.

Once this is done, you can click on the “RACI TABLE” tab to see the effective RACI Table.

Benefits of Using the Feature Deliverable Extension

• Improved Visibility: The extension offers improved visibility into the status of deliverables, helping teams stay on track and meet their deadlines.
• Efficient Project Management: Project managers can streamline their processes and reduce administrative overhead by integrating deliverables tracking into the work item form.
• Better Decision-Making: With real-time data on deliverables, teams can make more informed decisions, prioritize tasks effectively, and allocate resources more efficiently.
• Enhanced Productivity: The extension eliminates the need for manually tracking deliverables, freeing up developers’ time to focus on their strengths: writing code.

How to Get Started

Installing the Feature Deliverable Extension is straightforward. Here are the steps to get you up and running:

1. Visit the Visual Studio Marketplace: Navigate to the Feature Livrable Extension page on the Visual Studio Marketplace.
2. Install the Extension: Click the “Get it free” button to install the extension. If you don’t have the necessary permissions, you can request an administrator install it.
3. Configure the Extension: Configure the extension to suit your team’s needs once installed. Add the deliverables tab to your work item forms and start tracking your deliverables more efficiently.

Conclusion

The Feature Livrable Extension is a game-changer for teams using Azure DevOps. Providing a dedicated space for tracking deliverables enhances visibility, improves collaboration, and streamlines project management. Whether you’re a project manager looking to optimize your workflows or a developer aiming to stay on top of your tasks, this extension offers the tools you need to succeed.