We explored the Azure Boards in Azure Boards Tips and Azure Boards Tips for Operations Teams. However, I failed to emphasize one important rule when you are working with my team, as well as the teams stewarded by my colleague, Agent #9 from our Navigating DevOps through Waterfalls adventure.
Feel free to visit and peruse
ourbacklog, however, do not make any changes onourbacklog!**
The board is a visualization
The BACKLOG, as shown on the left, is an ordered and prioritized flat or hierarchical list of deliverables, features, technical debt, and other bits and pieces that should be implemented to deliver value to delighted end-users. The BOARD is a visual representation of the same data, commonly categorized in columns and swim lanes.
Note a few important points:
- ordered and prioritized list
- visual representation
- items at the TOP have the highest priority
The correct, but not default way
When you set the Card reordering feature to Work items follow the backlog order when changing columns magic happens when you drag a card from one column to the other on the board.
In our example above, we are dragging the E2 card from the FUNNEL to the ACTIVE column and the center SWIMLANE. As you drop the card anywhere in the column, the board positions it correctly using the groomed and ordered backlog. As shown, the card will be placed above D2, because on the backlog E2 is positioned before D2.
After dragging the card, both Agent #9 and Agent #13 are happy as their pristine, ordered, and prioritized single source of truth backlog remains unchanged.
Unfortunately, this is not the default mode with Azure Boards.
The default, but not correct way
The default Card reordering feature is set to Work items reorder when changing columns and the backlog reflects the new order.
In our example above, we are dragging the E2 card from the FUNNEL to the ACTIVE column and the center SWIMLANE. As we drop the card after the - card, the board positions it where we drop it.
After dragging the card, both Agent #9 and Agent #13 are unhappy as their pristine, ordered, and prioritized backlog remains has been changed. While the tragedy is not evident with this simple example, consider hundreds of cards being dragged and dropped by a team per day. The backlog turns into a single pile of mess very quickly, making the board the single source of truth.
Upset with the current default?
It is obviously a personal / team preference as to whether the backlog or the board are their single source of truth. For me, the backlog which I groom regularly like an immaculate Rose Garden, is my single source of truth. The Board is a visualization of the same data using the backlog as source.
- Am I wrong to be upset with the default option selected by Microsoft?
- What are your thoughts?