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 Projects and add Resources like files, links and docs you create.

1. Projects

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

1

Default Project

Every Organisation has a Default Project

2

Add a New Project

Add as many new projects as you need

3

Edit and Archive

Edit Projects or Archive when you're done.

2. Project Packages

Packages are the way we package 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 decide on the Betting Table if we have the appetite for this package in a Cycle.

1

Project Packages

Click on the packages box to add packages to the project

2

Adding a Package

Create a package with rich text, images and styling

3

Project Package Board

Drag the packages as they move through the framing and shaping process, then up in to the Cycle you bet on.

3. Project Resources

Projects 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 Project Resources page.

1

Project Resources

Click on the resources box to add docs and files to the project

2

Adding a Resource

Create a new Resource inline, or upload files or links out to other sites.

3

Project Resources Grid

View your Project Resources, filter by owner, type. Pin them to the top or organise into Folders.

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. You can line up Packages from any Project into any Cycle.

1

Create a New Cycle

Click Manage Cycles from the Project Package Kanban board and then create a new cycle from the Cycles home page

2

Enter Name and Set Dates

Choose a name and drag the block to set dates.

3

You Created a Cycle!

Active and upcoming packages on the home page.

5. Hill Charts

All Packages dragged into a Cycle box on the kanban board on the home page will appear as a Hill Chart preview for that Cycle. Click on a Hill Chart to interact with it and build out the Scopes.

1

Hill Chart Previews

All Packages that you drag to Cycles will have a corresponding Hill Chart

2

Hill Chart

Click on the preview to see the Hill Chart detail

3

Package

Click "View Package" to see the Package detail

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.