Communicate actionable information by using custom dashboards in Azure Boards

Microsoft Azure Boards is a powerful tool that allows teams to manage their work and track their progress in an agile manner. With the ability to create custom dashboards, you can communicate actionable information to your team in a clear and concise manner. In this article, we will explore how you can leverage custom dashboards in Azure Boards to enhance collaboration and improve your DevOps workflows.

Create Custom Dashboards for a Centralized View

Custom dashboards in Azure Boards provide a centralized view of your team’s work items, backlogs, and other relevant data. By creating customized dashboards, you can focus on the specific metrics and information that matter most to your team. This helps in streamlining your development processes and making more informed decisions.

Add and Customize Widgets

One of the key features of custom dashboards is the ability to add and customize widgets. Widgets are the building blocks of your dashboard and can display a variety of information and metrics. Azure Boards offers a wide range of widgets, including charts, burndown charts, query results, and more. By selecting the appropriate widgets for your dashboard, you can visualize important data and make it easily accessible for your team.

Track Progress with Query Widgets

To track the progress of your backlog items, you can add a query widget to your dashboard. Configure it to display the backlog items that meet certain criteria. For example, you can create a query to display all open items assigned to a specific team member. This allows you to quickly see the work items that need attention and take necessary actions.

Visualize Work Items with Burndown Charts

The burndown chart widget is useful for tracking the progress of your work items over time. It visually represents the remaining work and helps you identify any potential bottlenecks or delays in your development cycle. Regularly reviewing the burndown chart ensures that your team is on track and allows you to make adjustments if necessary.

Communicate Metrics and Trends with Charts and Graphs

In addition to tracking work items, you can add charts and graphs to communicate important metrics and trends. For example, you can display the number of bugs reported over time or the velocity of your team’s work. This provides a visual representation of your team’s performance and helps you identify areas for improvement.

Share and Collaborate with Custom Dashboards

Custom dashboards in Azure Boards can be shared with your team members or stakeholders. This allows everyone to have a real-time view of the progress and collaborate more effectively. By providing transparency and visibility into your development processes, you can foster a culture of accountability and empower your team to take ownership of their work.

In conclusion, custom dashboards in Azure Boards are a valuable tool for communicating actionable information to your team members. By leveraging various widgets and customization options, you can create a centralized view of your work items, backlogs, and metrics. This helps in streamlining your DevOps workflows, improving collaboration, and making data-driven decisions. Start creating your custom dashboards in Azure Boards today and unleash the full potential of your team’s productivity.