When working with sprints, is there a way to manage high-level (quarterly) planning?

Question

Hi,

We would like to be able to tell:

* which tasks will be done in next quarter
* when will near future tasks start and end
* what would be the impact of inserting an unplanned tasks on current and near future tasks

Currently working with Portfolio addon and each team manages their sprints.

Problem is that people feel like they need to work for the tool.

Anyone who works with both and can share their experience?

Any suggestions for other addons/methods?

Thanks in advance

Marcin Geb _SoftwarePlant_ · Answer

Hi Tal, you've got a couple of tools suitable for the 'next quarter planning' in BigPicture - the Gantt chart and the roadmap. When you talk 'start and end dates' you probably mean the Gantt chart.

And yes, a delayed task, when shifted, will move forward other tasks linked to it, as long as the default 'Auto mode' is enabled in the Gantt chart module, as opposed to the Manual/Lock modes. https://wiki.softwareplant.com/display/DOCUMENTATION/Data+Display+and+Editing#DataDisplayandEditing-TaskModes

Tal Kdoshim · Answer

According to the person in my org who decided to go for Portfolio, the problem with Big picture was that in case a task is delayed it will not automatically shift other tasks considering resources and dependencies.

I'm not sure it's correct.

Krisztian Kovacs_rapuo3 · Answer

Hi @Tal Kdoshim,

have you thought about Big Picture? It tries to calculate a bit less than Portfolio. While it's a great tool, this is not the first time I've heard something like that. It tends to do lots of things automatically, leaving teams and/or managers to feel they are not in control.

Let me know why you didn't go with Big picture and we could start a conversation.