How It Works

With Shape Up, you'll be working in Cycles, delivering Packages consisting of one or more Scopes, which themselves are made up of one or more Tasks. Organise packages by Streams and add Documents like files, links and docs you create.

1. Streams

Streams are how you organise Packages and Resources around a topic or initiative. Your teams may be working on one or many streams at one time, so Packages can be scheduled into any Cycle, whatever Stream they belong to.

1

Streams

The Stream card shows a chart of Packages in the last 6 Cycles and the owner.

2

Add a New Stream

Add as many new streams as you need

3

Edit and Archive

Edit Streams or Archive when you're done.

2. Packages

Packages are the way we bundle up our ideas and communicate across teams the problems and solutions we're provding in each Cycle. A Package starts out as a "Raw Idea", just the very basics, then we "Frame" the context and outcome we want to deliver and "Shape" the package so we can finally present at the Betting Table to see if we have the appetite for this package the Cycle.

1

Package Detail

View package details throughout the app

2

Add/Edit Package

Create and edit packages with rich text, images, markdown and styling

3

Package Board

View packages by stream, drag and drop to prioritise. Packages are organised in tabs for candidates, building, scheduled and other stages.

3. Documents

Streams and initiatives can have a lot of associated documents, screenshots, Figmas or Miro boards, Google Sheets. You can create documents inline, upload files, or links in the Stream Resources page.

1

Create Documents

Create new rich Documents in the editor, or upload files, or links to online resources.

2

Package Documents

View all the documents for this Package in the Documents tab.

3

Document Library

View all the documents for your Oranisation in the Library

4. Cycles

A Cycle is a fixed time period during which focused and uninterrupted work is done on several packaged packages. Usually 6 weeks with a 2 week cool down. The packages your team will be working on in each cycle are selected at the Betting Table.

1

Create a New Cycle

Create a new Cycle from the cyles page

2

Enter Name and Set Dates

Choose a name and drag the block to set dates.

3

You Created a Cycle!

The Cycle will be empty intially. Shape some Packages and the Betting Table will choose.

5. Hill Charts

All Packages put in to a Cycle at the Betting Table will appear as a Hill Chart in that Cycle. Click on a Hill Chart to interact with it and build out the Scopes.

1

Hill Chart Previews

All Packages sheduled for a Cycle at the Betting Table will have a Hill Chart preview in the Cycle view.

2

Bar Chart View

Toggle to see the scope progress for each Package in a Bar Chart

3

Hill Chart

View the Hill Chart detail view and manage Scopes and Tasks in the Package Hill Chart tab

6. Scopes and Tasks

Scopes reflect the meaningful chunks of a package that can be completed independently and in a short period of time — a few days or less. Drag the scopes around the hill chart to mark your progress.

Each scope constists of one or more Tasks. Click the Scope title to add tasks. You can comment on scopes and tasks as needed to discuss.

1

Scopes

Add scopes to the hill chart and drag them on the slope to communicate status.

2

Tasks

Click on a Scope title or add/edit tasks to manage the tasks in that scope.

3

Task Details

Click on a Task title to see the details and add/read comments.

7. The Task Mapper

Breaking your package into scopes can be a challenge. You can optionally use the Task Mapper linked on the hill chart to braindump all of the tasks you can think of then organise them into groups of related tasks. These groups will become scopes in the hill chart.

1

Dump Tasks

Add all the individual tasks that spring to mind when you discuss the package.