Azure DevOps (ADO) provides a variety of tools to streamline projects. Most users are aware of typical work items like user stories and tasks, however, Decisions is one that is frequently overlooked. We will examine the advantages and features of using Decisions in ADO since they have the potential to greatly improve tracking, decision-making, and collaboration for your Dynamics 365 projects. 

It might be difficult to manage conversations effectively without deviating from the meeting’s core goal while modifying user stories or going over crucial details with stakeholders. You can designate a Decision work item to the appropriate stakeholder who will be making the decision by creating one in ADO. By doing this, you can get their attention and decrease lengthy conversations in meetings or calls that aren’t connected. Additionally, you can follow up without using sticky notes or manual reminders because the choice is trackable. 

Backlog meetings frequently run into problems when someone advises moving a talk “offline,” eliminating any notes or outcomes from that conversation. You may efficiently address this issue with Decisions in ADO. All pertinent talks and decisions are documented within ADO by assigning a Decision work item. A thorough record of the decision-making process can be created by team members working together on the Decision, adding notes, and providing updates. 

The Decision work item creates a new level of collaboration and communication because of ADO’s tagging feature. Once a decision has been reached, you can tag the people who need to be notified to make sure they receive a notification. This strategy reduces the number of unnecessary emails and provides everyone with a single notification of any updates. Additionally, consultants can use the tagging function to enable customers to confer among themselves before making a decision, assuring openness and thorough documentation. 

The ability to quickly reference and keep track of the full decision-making history is one of the main benefits of using Decisions in ADO. The Decision work item becomes a hub for all pertinent information by including notes, comments, and statuses. With this functionality, there is no longer a need to look through numerous communication channels or rely on people’s memories for future reference, audits, or debates. 

The decision-making capabilities of Azure DevOps are a hidden treasure that have the potential to completely change how teams engage, make decisions, and monitor project progress. By utilizing this frequently forgotten work item, you can speed up backlog refinement, maintain thorough documentation, enhance collaboration, and establish a central location for past decision-making. Discover the potential of Azure DevOps’ Decisions feature today and see how it can boost team productivity and project success. 

Check out our podcasts on the same topic:

• Ep 23 – All About Azure DevOps, part 1
• Ep 24 – Azure DevOps Series, Episode 2: Sprints & Boards
• Ep 25 – Azure DevOps Series, Episode 3: Best Practices, User Adoption & Challenges

We wrap up the section of this blog series on the work items within Azure DevOps next wee discussion Change Requests.