PMBlog

Last night was an exciting time and I promised to add the details here, so let's get to it.  In the discussion on how to use Microsoft Project for Agile Projects, it is important to create some custom fields to store and manage the Agile process.  We will need Sprint Number, Sprint Priority, Backlog Points, Backlog Count, Backlog Variance. 

Here are the field setup for each. 
Sprint Priority - Text - Lookup (Values SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4 - you can modify based on your needs. 
Sprint Number - Number - Lookup (Values 1,2,3,4 - modify as needed). 
Backlog Count - Number - Formula IIf([% Work Complete]="0",0,IIf([% Work Complete]="100",2,IIf([% Work Complete]>"50",1,0))), set Rollup to Sum. 
Backlog Points - Number - this can either be a set value for all Backlog items or you can make this be an enter value to each item. 
Backlog Variance - Number - Formula [Backlog Count] - [Backlog Points], set Rollup to Formula

You can also use the Microsoft Project field, Notes as a place to store and manage the storycards.

Once you have added these fields in MS Project, you can use the task list to manage the Backlog.  I entered Sprints (since I am running more than more team as summary lines) with each Backlog item as a task below the Sprint summary.   I also added resources to each backlog item and defined the work associated with each Backlog item.

Now that you have all the Sprints entered in, you can then create the burndown report using Visual Reports, thanks to Heather O'Cull and these extensions to get burndown by Sprint.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/project/archive/2007/11/14/we-re-back.aspx 
When creating the burndown, select the Field Picker to add the additional fields from above to filter and manage the sprints.