Azure DevOps Boards for Project Managers/Analysts/Developers Course Syllabus

This project-oriented course provides a comprehensive introduction to Azure DevOps Boards and related services, designed for project managers, analysts, and developers. Over approximately 6 hours of structured learning, you'll gain hands-on experience managing agile projects, configuring CI/CD pipelines, and improving team collaboration using Azure DevOps. Each module combines practical demonstrations with real-world scenarios to ensure immediate applicability.

Module 1: Introduction to Azure DevOps & Organization Setup

Estimated time: 0.5 hours

• Overview of DevOps principles and Azure DevOps services
• Create an Azure DevOps organization and configure projects
• Set up permissions and invite team members
• Configure project areas and teams

Module 2: Planning & Tracking with Azure Boards

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Define and customize work item types: Epics, Features, User Stories, Tasks
• Configure backlogs, boards, and sprint planning
• Use queries for work item tracking
• Set up dashboards for real-time progress monitoring

Module 3: Version Control with Azure Repos

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Initialize Git repositories and manage security
• Apply branching strategies including Git Flow and trunk-based development
• Perform code reviews using pull requests
• Enforce quality and compliance with branch policies

Module 4: Continuous Integration with Azure Pipelines

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Create build pipelines using YAML and classic editors
• Integrate pipelines with Git repositories
• Configure triggers and implement CI best practices
• Use hosted and self-hosted agents

Module 5: Continuous Delivery & Release Management

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Define multi-stage release pipelines
• Set up approvals and gates for controlled deployments
• Deploy applications to Azure App Service, VMs, and Kubernetes clusters
• Manage variable groups, secrets, and deployment slots

Module 6: Package Management with Azure Artifacts

Estimated time: 0.75 hours

• Set up feeds for Maven, NuGet, npm, and Python packages
• Configure upstream sources and retention policies
• Use universal packages for sharing scripts and tools

Module 7: Quality & Testing with Azure Test Plans

Estimated time: 0.75 hours

• Create test plans, test suites, and test cases
• Execute manual and exploratory testing sessions
• Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines

Module 8: Integration & Collaboration Best Practices

Estimated time: 0.75 hours

• Connect Azure DevOps to GitHub, Jira, and Slack
• Leverage service hooks and webhooks for notifications
• Implement governance using policies, audits, and reporting

Prerequisites

• Basic familiarity with the Azure portal
• Fundamental understanding of Git and version control concepts
• Experience with agile project management is helpful but not required

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Manage agile projects using Azure Boards with confidence
• Set up and customize CI/CD pipelines for automated builds and releases
• Implement secure and scalable Git repository strategies
• Track software quality through integrated testing and reporting
• Enhance team collaboration by integrating Azure DevOps with external tools