Choosing a Process Template
Choosing the process template to use when creating a new project in Team Foundation Server is a simple action with many profound consequences. Each process template in Team Foundation Server provides a different set of default work items, work item queries, product templates, reports, security groups, and guidance. In addition, each process has a distinct and different philosophy of software development practice that dictates how the process template works within Team Foundation Server.
There are many resources available on processes, process guidance, and choosing the right process for your business needs. Determining the right process for your business needs can be a complex and time-consuming task, particularly if you do not currently have documented processes or an overall process philosophy. However, you must choose a process template before you can create a project in Team Foundation Server. While this topic does not go into detail for determining overall process for your business needs; it can help you choose a process template to use when creating your first projects in Team Foundation Server.
Making an Initial Choice of Process Template
You can choose between two different process templates in Team Foundation Server. Each of the templates described below is based upon a different philosophical approach to software development. Choose the process template that is most similar to your own business practices and needs. You can also choose to investigate other alternatives to the default process templates.
MSF for Agile Software Development
The MSF for Agile Software Development is optimally designed for small projects on a rapid delivery schedule. You might want to choose the MSF for Agile Software Development template if your business:
Does not have a great deal of documented process and does not have interest in developing formal processes.
Has small software development teams.
Can accommodate many small development teams working in multiple ways.
Has short software development cycles (measured in weeks or months).
Supports multiple software releases in a calendar year.
For more information, see Visual Studio Team System: MSF for Agile Software Development (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=51460).
MSF for CMMI Process Improvement
The MSF for CMMI Process Improvement process model was created in the business world largely outside the software development culture by professionals who believe that formalizing and improving best practices through lessons learned is critical to long-term success. You might want to choose the MSF for CMMI Process Improvement template if your business:
Wants to evaluate current business practices.
Has large software development teams.
Needs to integrate traditionally separate groups or organizations.
Can provide guidance for quality processes.
Has longer software development cycles.
For more information, see Visual Studio Team System: MSF for CMMI Process Improvement (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=51462).
Other Options
There are many other process models besides MSF for Agile Software Development and MSF for CMMI Process Improvement. Your business might already use one of these other process models. Some of these process models might supply a process template that you can upload to Team Foundation Server. If not, you can modify the Team Foundation Server process templates to better reflect your current process model. For more information about process template management, see Process Template Manager and Customizing Process Templates.
Changing Process and Process Templates Over Time
Whether you choose MSF for Agile Software Development, MSF for CMMI Process Improvement, or your own custom process template when you initially create a project, over the course of time you might find that there are certain things that you would like to do differently. For example, you might find that you need a different type of work item, or that you like the workflows in MSF for Agile Software Development but would really like some of the reports available in MSF for CMMI Process Improvement. This kind of growth and process evolution is expected in any business. Team Foundation Server supports the modification of its process templates to accommodate these kinds of changes. For more information about customizing process templates for your business, see Customizing Process Templates.