RTC - Parallel timelines and Teams
502
Five Categories
Five Teams matched to the categories.
100 users
All,
We are rolling out a software solution and are tracking department roll out via RTC. At first, we were doing roll out one department at a time. Now, they want to do parallel releases for some of the smaller depts. and track them separately. This is fine, we can use parallel timelines.
The Question:
If I have 100 people split in the five teams on the "Main Development" timeline, do I have to go and create 5 new teams for each of the additional timelines? Or can I just use the same teams?
Example
Java Team (25 members) on the Main Development timeline. Now there is a Department B timeline, do I need to Create Java Team B or what? How does this affect status and progress bars? Do I have to create new categories?
Five Categories
Five Teams matched to the categories.
100 users
All,
We are rolling out a software solution and are tracking department roll out via RTC. At first, we were doing roll out one department at a time. Now, they want to do parallel releases for some of the smaller depts. and track them separately. This is fine, we can use parallel timelines.
The Question:
If I have 100 people split in the five teams on the "Main Development" timeline, do I have to go and create 5 new teams for each of the additional timelines? Or can I just use the same teams?
Example
Java Team (25 members) on the Main Development timeline. Now there is a Department B timeline, do I need to Create Java Team B or what? How does this affect status and progress bars? Do I have to create new categories?
2 answers
Please see: https://jazz.net/wiki/bin/view/Deployment/RTCProcessFundamentals
The project area defines one or more timelines which define how a given planned period of time is partitioned into iterations such as releases, milestones, sprints etc. A project area can be assigned to exactly one project timeline to work against at any instance in time.
Team areas contained in a project can also each be assigned to exactly one timeline to work against at any instance in time. Only team areas on the top level of the team area hierarchy can specify a different timeline, nested team areas inherit the timeline from their parent. Please see the section Timeline and iteration fundamentals for more details.
So if you want to work against different timelines, you always need one area for each timeline.
The project area defines one or more timelines which define how a given planned period of time is partitioned into iterations such as releases, milestones, sprints etc. A project area can be assigned to exactly one project timeline to work against at any instance in time.
Team areas contained in a project can also each be assigned to exactly one timeline to work against at any instance in time. Only team areas on the top level of the team area hierarchy can specify a different timeline, nested team areas inherit the timeline from their parent. Please see the section Timeline and iteration fundamentals for more details.
So if you want to work against different timelines, you always need one area for each timeline.
I recommend thinking of your team areas as "planning areas" for a given iteration. So if you have a group of people that want to have a separate plan for a given iteration, you'd create a team area for that group of people.
For your particular example, if each of your five teams want to have a separate "departmental plan" for a given iteration in the departmental timeline, then yes, you'd need five additional team areas.
For your particular example, if each of your five teams want to have a separate "departmental plan" for a given iteration in the departmental timeline, then yes, you'd need five additional team areas.
Comments
Thank you both for your timely answers. I do have some follow up questions however. I "think" I understand about planning and timelines and iterations, the confusion seems to come from the Filed Against/Team piece of this question. If I use this example:
Timeline1
- DepartmentA
- Java Section 1/Java Team
- Java Section 2/Java Team
- Database Section/Database Team
- WebSphere Section/WebSphere Team
- Process/Department Business Team
Can I keep the same Categories/Filed Against->Teams, or do I need to create additional ones for this new timeline? Future Department Timelines are going to have their own milestones and iterations, so a new timeline is important, the Filed Against field, i'm hoping, is going to remain the same, so I am confused on how to implement that and match to a team if a new team is needed for the additional timelines.
I looked at the Rational Team Concert on jazz.net, and it seems that you have work items assigned to Filed Against, like "Work Items", and the team area is under RTC Development (Main Development timeline) and then you have the Planned for for 6.0 ifix Timeline...that is how I set up my POC. But your responses lead me to believe I will not get accurate progress/reporting...
It's kind of confusing....
Only a team area that is assigned to the Department(B) timeline can do work against the Department(B) timeline. So in particular, if all of these team areas are assigned to Timeline1, then none of those team areas can be used to plan and do work for Timeline(B). So you will need to create new team areas for planning and working against the Department(B) timeline (or reassign existing team areas to the Department(B) timeline, but then those team areas can no longer plan/work against Timeline1.