PlanningForge Documentation
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Getting Started

Get up and running with PlanningForge in just a few minutes. This guide will walk you through creating your first planning session.

Quick Start Checklist

  • Sign up for a PlanningForge account
  • Create your organization
  • Optional: Enable two-factor authentication for security
  • Set up your first team
  • Run your first planning session

Step 1: Sign Up and Create Your Organization

Getting started with PlanningForge is quick and easy:

  1. Sign up for a free account at planningforge.com
  2. Verify your email address
  3. Create your organization - this will be the workspace for all your teams
  4. Choose your plan based on your team size and feature requirements

Screenshot: Organization Setup Page

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Account Types

Individual

Perfect for freelancers and small teams (up to 5 users)

Team

Ideal for growing teams with advanced features

Enterprise

Full feature set with SSO, advanced security, and priority support

Secure Your Account (Optional but Recommended)

Protect your account with two-factor authentication (MFA) for enhanced security:

  1. Navigate to your Profile page from the top-right menu
  2. Scroll to the "Two-Factor Authentication" section
  3. Click "Enable Two-Factor Authentication"
  4. Scan the QR code with your authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy, 1Password, etc.)
  5. Enter the 6-digit code to confirm setup
  6. Save your recovery codes in a secure location

Note: If your organization enforces MFA, you'll be required to complete this setup before accessing organization resources.

Step 2: Set Up Your First Team

Once your organization is created, you'll want to set up your development teams:

  1. Navigate to the Teams section in your dashboard
  2. Click "Create Team"
  3. Enter your team name and description
  4. Invite team members by email
  5. Assign team roles

Screenshot: Team Creation Form

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Team Roles

Team Lead

Full team management permissions

Member

Can participate in sessions and view team data

Observer

Can view sessions but not vote

Team Configuration

Configure your team's estimation settings:

  • Estimation Scale: Choose from Fibonacci, T-shirt sizes, or custom scales
  • Voting Rules: Set consensus requirements and voting timeouts
  • Default Session Settings: Configure session templates for consistency

Step 3: Connect Your Tools (Optional)

Jira Integration

Connect your Atlassian Jira instance for seamless story import and export:

  1. Go to your team's Jira Settings
  2. Click "Connect to Jira"
  3. Authorize PlanningForge to access your Jira site
  4. Select the projects you want to sync with
  5. Configure field mappings for story points

Screenshot: Jira Integration Setup

SSO Setup (Enterprise)

For Enterprise plans, configure single sign-on:

  1. Navigate to Organization Settings > Authentication
  2. Upload your SAML certificate or configure OAuth
  3. Set up user provisioning and group mappings
  4. Test the SSO connection

Screenshot: SSO Configuration

Step 4: Create Your First Planning Session

Now you're ready to run your first estimation session:

Creating a Session

  1. Click "New Session" from your dashboard
  2. Choose your team from the dropdown
  3. Enter session details:
    • Session name (e.g., "Sprint 24 Planning")
    • Description
    • Estimation scale
  4. Add stories to estimate:
    • Import from Jira (if connected)
    • Add stories manually
    • Copy from previous sessions

Screenshot: Session Creation Form

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Running the Session

  1. Start the session - team members will receive notifications
  2. Present each story for estimation
  3. Team members vote using the estimation scale
  4. Reveal votes and discuss any significant differences
  5. Re-vote if needed until consensus is reached
  6. Finalize estimates and move to the next story

Screenshot: Active Planning Session

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Session Controls

As the session moderator, you can:

  • Skip stories that need more information
  • Pause/resume sessions as needed
  • Add new stories during the session
  • Export results back to Jira or as reports

Tips for Successful Planning Sessions

Before the Session

  • Prepare stories with clear acceptance criteria
  • Review the backlog with your product owner
  • Schedule sessions when all key team members can attend
  • Set expectations about time commitment

During the Session

  • Keep discussions focused on estimation factors
  • Encourage all team members to participate
  • Document assumptions and decisions
  • Take breaks for longer sessions

After the Session

  • Export estimates to your project management tool
  • Share results with stakeholders
  • Review velocity against previous sprints
  • Gather feedback on the estimation process

Common Questions

Can I change estimates after the session?

Yes, estimates can be updated in the session results view or directly in your connected Jira instance.

What if team members can't attend the live session?

You can run asynchronous sessions where team members vote when convenient, or include proxy votes from team leads.

How do I handle very large backlogs?

Use session templates and bulk import features to speed up session setup. Consider breaking large sessions into smaller, focused sessions.

Can I customize the estimation scale?

Yes, you can create custom estimation scales in your team settings to match your team's preferred approach.

Next Steps

Now that you've completed your first planning session:

  • Explore integrations with your existing tools
  • Set up regular planning sessions for your sprints
  • Invite additional team members to join your organization
  • Review analytics to improve your estimation accuracy
  • Contact support if you need help with advanced features
Support Resources Explore Features