If you are working in a Software Development project as a Team Leader or the equivalent for this position, you might always facing a lot of management questions like below:
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When this module or feature will be completed?
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How many resource do you need?
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How is the progress?
- Is there any issues?
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How much defects we have found and fixed?
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How is the defect trend?
When you have worked in a small project, without using a great tools like TFS, Code2Plan, Mingle or any other project management and monitoring tools, may be those questions will make your head exploded.. And the last question would become..
Yes, because to prepare those answers, you will need a huge effort to do. And you will not have a time to touch the code. And maybe if your team is really need you as a team leader, then they might have uncontrolled works.
Those questions are normal because the stakeholder always want everything are undercontrol. And actually they want if any issues exists, those are need to be escalated therefore it will not become a time bomb. And whom are know the actual condition? It's you!
The problem is when we have minimum resources - especially on the senior level in a team, which should give a lot effort on the technically and core works, but also have to be able to answer those questions.
To be able to show the dashboard view of the project we have to think how to merge those spreaded information into some simple view, and has strong information.
The answer is on the tools. What the tools you are using? are the tools coverage all of the software development lifecycle? are they integrated? let's check what the tools you are using at the moment... Software Requirements Specification, Software Design, Detail Design, Features, Stories, Tasks, Defects, Test, Tracking System, Build, etc.. are those linked and traceable? can you view those in a single workspace shared for the whole team?
In those great tools, you can see those view in very clear workspace. Project Dashboard, Wall Card, Iteration view, Features tree, traceability for all aspects, Scope added and completeness chart, Burn down chart, those work items are linked in the development tools like Visual Studio as an add in. Some of free version has less functionalities but the concept to merge all software lifecycle aspects are the main idea.
Use your tools, don't loss your huge effort to answer those 'grey area' questions. Cheers.