How to use Trello

Trello is a web-based project management application. Projects are represented by boards, which contain lists (corresponding to task lists). Lists contain cards (corresponding to tasks).

https://trello.com

Cards

The main component of Trello is cards. We use cards to represent a either a new feature, story (collections of features), a bug or an enhancement and we use colour coded labels to denote this. If a card needs breaking down into more manageable pieces we use checklists within each card to organise sub tasks

Each card contains a brief description and if a more detailed spec is needed we create this as a Google Doc and link to it from the card. Wireframes and other documentation are saved into the Google Doc account and also linked to from the card.

Lists

Cards are organised onto lists and are supposed to progress from one list to the next (via drag-and-drop) starting on the left and moving to the right, priority is assigned by moving cards to the top of a list. Users can be assigned to cards. Users and boards can be grouped into organisations. We generally use the following lists to manage a project:

• Tasks: All cards start out in this list. They will be reviewed here by the project manager, relevant titles and description may need to be added before the task is ready to be worked on. This list is used to keep track of issues that may not be relevant right now but will be in the future.
• To Do: Cards are moved to the 'To Do' list once they are ready to be worked on. The relevant people are assigned to the card so they will be notified of the cards progress.
• Doing: When somebody is working on a card it is moved to the 'doing' list. The people assigned to a card are kept up to date with their progress through comments added to the card.
• Review: When a task is completed it is moved by the person who performed the task to this list. It will then be reviewed by the project manager, if the task needs more work it is moved back into the 'doing' list with the necessary comments to explain what still needs doing.
• Done: When a card is complete it gets moved to the 'Done' list. This list is reviewed at client meetings and completed cards are archived and no longer appear on the board.