Posted by Richard | October 9, 2019 | SQL Server, Visual Studio
Creating a Custom SSDT Test Condition

I was teaching our new SSDT2019 class today and, while discussing SQL Server Unit Testing, I was asked why the default Row Count test condition only tested for equality (and...

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Posted by Richard | October 8, 2019 | Azure Boards, Azure Test Plans
Find PBIs Without Test Cases

I'm feeling encouraged. It seems that more and more teams, whether they are using automated or manual tests, are using Azure Test Plans to create and track their acceptance testing...

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Posted by Richard | May 2, 2019 | Azure Boards, Scrum
Creating a Product Backlog Treemap

Product Backlogs are boring. Not only are they one dimensional, but they are often unordered. This is to say nothing of their potential lack of information as well. (User) story...

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Posted by Richard | September 17, 2018 | Scrum
Scrum in a Nutshell

At the beginning of a Sprint, the Product Owner presents an ordered and up-to-date Product Backlog to the Development Team. The Development Team selects an achievable set of the highest...

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Posted by Richard | May 23, 2018 | Scrum, Team Services, TFS
What’s our Sprint Goal?

According to the Scrum Guide, the Sprint Goal is an objective set for the Sprint that can be met through the implementation of Product Backlog. It provides guidance to the Development...

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Posted by Richard | May 16, 2018 | Team Services, TFS, Visual Studio 2017
Creating a Team Explorer 2017 installer

Having an offline installer (.iso) of Team Explorer can be very beneficial, for various reasons. Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn't offer one. Here are the simple steps to follow in order to...

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Posted by Richard | February 8, 2018 | Scrum
Energizers

An energizer is something that imparts energy, vitality, or spirit to other people. Energizer activities are important in classroom training environments - especially right after a large lunch. Here is...

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Posted by Richard | February 2, 2018 | Scrum
Room configuration for team-based training

When planning a team-based training event, please consider the room configuration. Having a comfortable table and chair arrangement will go a long ways towards a positive learning experience. Round or square...

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Posted by Richard | October 31, 2017 | Scrum
Should our team use Scrum?

As a travelling Scrum and DevOps consultant I’m constantly asked “should our team use Scrum”? Now you might think that being a Professional Scrum Trainer – and serious Scrum fanboy...

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Posted by Richard | September 28, 2017 | Scrum, Team Services, TFS
Which tests are my regression tests?

Although we can't help you decide which tests should be part of your regression suite, we can help you easily identify them by using tags. Over the years, we've seen...

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Posted by Richard | March 15, 2017 | Scrum, Team Services
Create a Professional Scrum process

Visual Studio Team Services' customization capabilities are to a point now where I can write this blog post ... as a rebuttal to any earlier post of my own. As...

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Posted by Richard | September 30, 2016 | Team Services, TFS, Visual Studio ALM
Wassup Team Room?

According to Microsoft's official definition, Team Rooms, like chat rooms, "provide teams with a space to discuss work in progress, ask questions, share status, and clarify issues that arise." Sounds...

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Posted by Richard | August 15, 2016 | Scrum, Team Services, TFS
Ordering the Product Backlog by ROI

The Scrum Guide says that the Product Owner is the sole person responsible for managing the Product Backlog and that Product Backlog management includes ordering items in the Product Backlog...

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Posted by Richard | June 13, 2016 | Misc, Scrum, Team Services, TFS
Stakeholder Traceroute

I'm always amazed at how difficult and even impossible it can be for stakeholders to get their ideas into some product backlogs. I've started asking teams to run a stakeholder...

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Posted by Richard | December 15, 2015 | Team Services, TFS, Visual Studio 2015
Storyboard your ideas for free

Update (April 2016): Microsoft has released Office Integration 2015 Update 2. With the recent release of Team Foundation Server Update 1, Microsoft has enabled all users to create storyboards in PowerPoint...

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