Box types

Contents: 1 Security and access 2 Available box types 3 Box type attributes 4 Manage box types 5 “Read more” URL 6 Box type vs box configuration

Contents: 1 Security and access 2 Available box types 3 Box type attributes 4 Manage box types 5 “Read more” URL 6 Box type vs box configuration

Box types allow you to set up any number of default boxes - flexible, high-level containers that come preconfigured, partially customized, or fully personalized. In practice, this means unprecedented flexibility in shaping a portfolio hierarchy to suit your business needs best.

A box type is akin to a template, which, once configured, can be used each time you or your team want to start working on a new thing (i.e., a Project, Portfolio, etc.), launch a new SAFe Agile Release Train, or do anything else. Each team can have a different box template to accommodate different types of projects and individual team preferences.

Additionally, if you want to reorganize your work or a team needs. If you edited a box type in a separate tab, refresh the page to ensure changes are reflected in the App.

You can’t change the box type of a given box - for example, once a box has been created as a "Program Increment", you can't turn it into a "Program”.

Security and access

Only the App admin can access and change the box type configuration.

See an interactive demo on how to access the box settings.

https://app.arcade.software/share/RyvUCWiOMp72NVdgV0vL

Box information can be checked on the Overview module by adding columns:

Period mode
Sequentiality
Created date
Scope type

This doesn't require an App admin role.

Available box types

Do you carry out many business projects independently of each other? If so, choose the Portfolio box structure and individual box project types, for example, Agile, Classic, or Hybrid projects. Or maybe you want to manage a specific project and understand what is going on in it? Choose a project type and divide it into Stages or Iterations.

BigPicture users can create and customize up to 11 box types.
Creating and using unlimited box-type templates requires BigPicture Enterprise.

Decide which project type would be the best option for your business goals:

Agile project - A built-in type that is recommended for projects run in Agile methodology
Classic project - A built-in type that is recommended for classic (waterfall) projects
Hybrid project - A built-in type suitable for hybrid projects involving Agile and classic approaches
Hybrid stage - A built-in type that helps to organize a hybrid project schedule into stages
Iteration - A built-in type that helps to schedule work iteratively
LeSS Requirement Area - A built-in type designed for multiple teams working together on one product.
Portfolio - A built-in type that stores Agile, classic, and hybrid types of projects
Program - Basic Box type that lets you divide the work into lower levels such as Iterations, Stages, or Program Increments
Program Increment - A built-in type that allows for grouping iterations into increments (recommended for SAFe® adopters)
SAFe Art - A built-in type to represent an Agile Release Train (recommended for SAFe® adopters)
Sprint - A built-in type that helps to schedule work iteratively
Stage - A built-in type that helps to organize classic project scope into stages

The diagram below shows the default, out-of-the-box configuration.

Box type attributes

See the Box type attributes page.

Manage box types

See the Manage box types page.

“Read more” URL

You can define the link that will be displayed when creating new boxes of this type. For example, it can lead to internal documentation. See the Period mode and sequentiality page.

Box type vs box configuration

Box type settings contain the default settings applicable to multiple boxes (all boxes of a given type). Those settings are adjusted in App Administration.

Settings that are only box type specific are listed below.

Default box type settings Manage box types Box type attributes Period mode and sequentiality Scope types Resource-related settings Resource coloring rules Inheritance mode Objectives - Business value and associated work Objective coloring rules Box types - impact of settings changes

Default box type settings Manage box types Box type attributes Period mode and sequentiality Scope types Resource-related settings Resource coloring rules Inheritance mode Objectives - Business value and associated work Objective coloring rules Box types - impact of settings changes

Box settings refer to the settings of a single, individual box. They are dependent on the box type settings.

Some setting pages are nearly identical for both box types and individual boxes. See the Box configuration page to learn more about these settings.