In the modern software development landscape, project managers need more than just traditional tools—they need to be at the nexus of business strategy and technical execution. This "Agile Nexus: Microsoft Azure DevOps Training Course for Project Managers" is designed to empower you to master this powerful, all-in-one platform. You will learn how to leverage Azure DevOps to streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and gain unparalleled visibility into your projects. This course will bridge the gap between project management theory and practical, real-world application, enabling you to lead your teams with confidence and deliver exceptional value.

This immersive 10-day training program goes beyond the basics to give you a deep, practical understanding of how Azure DevOps supports Agile and DevOps methodologies. You will learn how to manage backlogs, track work, and create powerful dashboards that provide a real-time pulse on your project's health. Through hands-on exercises and detailed case studies, you will master everything from pipeline management and test planning to artifact management. By the end of this course, you will be proficient in using Azure DevOps to not only manage projects but to transform the way your team works, fostering a culture of continuous delivery and improvement.

Duration: 10 days

Target Audience:

• Project Managers
• Scrum Masters
• Product Owners
• Team Leads
• Business Analysts
• Program Managers
• Project Coordinators
• Release Managers
• PMO Professionals
• Agile Coaches

Objectives:

• Understand the core components of Azure DevOps
• Create and manage work items and backlogs
• Visualize and track work with boards and dashboards
• Manage project code using Azure Repos
• Implement and monitor continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines
• Plan, execute, and track test cases
• Administer project settings and permissions
• Gain insights from project data using analytics and reporting
• Integrate Azure DevOps with other tools
• Foster an Agile and DevOps culture within your team

Course Modules:

Module 1: Introduction to Azure DevOps

• The full suite of Azure DevOps services
• Navigating the user interface
• Understanding project organization and hierarchy
• The role of a Project Manager in Azure DevOps
• Best practices for initial setup

Module 2: Agile Project Management with Boards

• Understanding work item types (Epics, Features, User Stories)
• Managing and prioritizing the backlog
• Using Kanban boards for visual workflow
• Creating and managing sprints with the Sprints hub
• The importance of burndown charts and sprint planning

Module 3: Work Item Management and Queries

• Creating and customizing work items
• Linking work items for traceability
• Building custom queries to find specific work
• Using charts and pivot tables for analysis
• Sharing queries with your team

Module 4: Dashboards and Reporting

• Creating and customizing project dashboards
• Adding widgets to a dashboard
• Understanding key metrics and KPIs
• Using Power BI to create advanced reports
• The value of data-driven decision making

Module 5: Source Code Management with Azure Repos

• Introduction to Git and version control
• Creating and managing Git repositories
• Branching strategies and pull requests
• Code reviews and policy management
• Best practices for team collaboration

Module 6: CI/CD with Azure Pipelines

• Understanding Continuous Integration (CI)
• Building an automated build pipeline
• Understanding Continuous Delivery (CD)
• Creating a release pipeline
• Monitoring pipeline health and performance

Module 7: Test Management with Azure Test Plans

• Creating and organizing test plans and test suites
• Authoring and executing test cases
• Manual testing and exploratory testing
• Tracking bugs and linking them to test cases
• Analyzing test results and reports

Module 8: Artifacts Management

• The purpose of Azure Artifacts
• Creating and using feeds
• Managing packages and dependencies
• Connecting to public package sources
• Integrating artifacts with your pipelines

Module 9: Project and Team Administration

• Managing team and project settings
• Setting up user permissions and access levels
• Configuring security groups and roles
• Using process templates
• The role of the administrator

Module 10: Advanced Backlog and Portfolio Management

• Managing multiple team backlogs
• Rolling up data with Epics and Features
• The portfolio management view
• Using delivery plans for cross-team visibility
• Strategic planning with Azure DevOps

Module 11: Service Hooks and Integrations

• Integrating Azure DevOps with other services
• Using webhooks for real-time notifications
• Connecting to external tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams
• Automating workflows with Logic Apps or Power Automate
• The role of extensions from the marketplace

Module 12: Advanced Boards and Process Customization

• Creating custom work item types
• Customizing the workflow and states
• Adding custom fields to work items
• The difference between inherited and hosted processes
• Migrating between different processes

Module 13: Project Security

• The principles of project security in Azure DevOps
• Setting up security groups and roles
• Managing permissions at different levels
• Best practices for securing sensitive information
• Auditing and monitoring user activity

Module 14: Reporting with Analytics Views

• Creating and customizing Analytics views
• Connecting to Analytics views from Power BI
• Building custom reports on project data
• Filtering and slicing data
• Using Analytics for proactive problem-solving

Module 15: Case Studies and Scenarios

• Applying all learned skills to real-world scenarios
• Managing a project from start to finish
• Troubleshooting a problematic pipeline
• Optimizing team collaboration using boards
• Presenting project metrics to leadership

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.