Nooga Portfolio | FAQ
Find answers to frequently asked questions.
General
What is Nooga Portfolio?
Applies to: Nooga Portfolio version 1.x (MVP)
Nooga Portfolio is an Azure DevOps extension that connects enterprise strategy to portfolio execution. It gives portfolio leaders, product managers, and agile teams a shared view of where the organization is heading and how the work being done contributes to getting there.
At its core, Nooga Portfolio visualizes the golden thread from strategic objectives down to the epics and features being delivered, making it possible to answer the questions that matter most: Are we doing the right things? Are our investments aligned with our strategy? Are our teams delivering outcomes, not just output?
What you can do with Nooga Portfolio:
Nooga Portfolio is built around a two-level OKR hierarchy. Enterprise OKRs define the long-term strategic direction for the enterprise, 2–5 years. Portfolio OKRs define the concrete outcome goals for the portfolio, 1–2 years. Epics and Features connect to Portfolio OKR Key Results, creating a clear and measurable link between strategy and execution.
In addition to strategic alignment, Nooga Portfolio integrates with Nooga Risk to surface risk data directly in the portfolio view. Risks associated with Epics are used as an input to a predictability score, giving portfolio leaders an evidence-based signal for which Epics need attention. This makes portfolio sync meetings more focused and actionable — teams spend less time reporting status and more time addressing the things that could derail delivery.
Who it is for:
Nooga Portfolio is designed for organizations working with SAFe or other scaled agile frameworks that want to move beyond task tracking and start managing their portfolio around business outcomes.
How it fits into the Nooga product suite:
Nooga Portfolio works alongside the other products in the Nooga suite, all built natively on Azure DevOps.
Nooga Scale supports PI Planning and ART-level execution, ensuring that agile teams and release trains are aligned on what to deliver and when.
Nooga Risk tracks and visualizes risks across the portfolio. Risk data from Nooga Risk flows directly into Nooga Portfolio, where it is used as an input to the predictability score for Epics. This score gives portfolio leaders an evidence-based view of which Epics carry the highest risk exposure, making it easier to prioritize conversations and corrective actions during portfolio sync meetings.
Together, Nooga Portfolio, Nooga Scale, and Nooga Risk cover the full flow from enterprise strategy to team delivery — providing the visibility and alignment needed to make confident portfolio decisions, all within Azure DevOps.
Is the plugin compatible with both on-premises and cloud versions of Azure DevOps?
No, only cloud versions of Azure DevOps.
What are the system requirements for using the plugin?
Nooga Portfolio runs inside Azure DevOps — there’s no additional infrastructure needed. All data remains within your organization’s Azure DevOps environment. You just need a modern web browser and the appropriate Azure DevOps permissions.
What data does the Nooga Portfolio extension store?
Nooga Portfolio does not store your Azure DevOps data on external servers — all information remains within Azure DevOps.
How does the plugin handle sensitive data (e.g. GDPR)?
All data stays in Azure DevOps. Nooga Portfolio does not access or transfer your data outside Microsoft’s environment.
Who has access to portfolio, program, and team data in Nooga Portfolio?
Access is governed by Azure DevOps permissions — Nooga Portfolio follows your project’s existing permission setup.
Does Nooga Portfolio have a recovery or backup plan?
Nooga Portfolio itself doesn’t maintain backups — because it doesn’t store data separately. All content is preserved in Azure DevOps and is managed by your organization’s backup and recovery procedures.
Installation & Setup
How do I install the plugin?
Go to the Azure DevOps Marketplace, select your organization, click the shopping bag (“Browse Marketplace”), and search for “Nooga Portfolio.”
Is there a trial version available?
Yes — there is a 14-day free trial with full functionality. You can access it via the Marketplace or by contacting the Nooga team.
What is required to start the trial?
Just supply your name, email, and Azure DevOps organization. No credit card is required to begin.
What happens to my data after the trial ends or if I terminate?
You will lose access to the Nooga Portfolio interface, but no data is lost — all information remains in Azure DevOps. To resume usage, contact sales or your customer success representative.
Can I use Nooga Portfolio with my existing Azure DevOps workflows?
Yes. Nooga Portfolio is built to integrate seamlessly with existing workflows and processes in Azure DevOps.
At what level in Azure DevOps should I install Nooga Portfolio?
You should install it at the organization level.
Features & Functionality MVP
How do I link Epics and Features to OKRs?
Applies to: Nooga Portfolio version 1.x (MVP)
The intended link is from an Epic or Feature to a Key Result. This ensures all work is connected to a measurable outcome rather than just a high-level goal direction.
The logic is: Objectives define where we want to go, Key Results measure whether we are getting there, and Epics and Features are the work that moves those Key Results.
To create the link, use the Related link type in Azure DevOps. If you are not seeing the connecting lines in the portfolio view after linking, this is likely a configuration issue — please contact support.
Note: It is technically possible to link directly to an Objective, but this is not recommended as it bypasses the measurement layer.
What is the relationship between an Objective and a Key Result?
Applies to: Nooga Portfolio version 1.x (MVP)
The relationship between an Objective and its Key Results is parent-child. The Objective is the parent and each Key Result is a child item beneath it.
What is an EOKR?
Applies to: Nooga Portfolio version 1.x (MVP)
EOKR stands for Enterprise OKR. It represents the long-term strategic direction for the entire enterprise, typically a 2–5 year north star that spans all portfolios. In SAFe terminology this is equivalent to a Strategic Theme expressed in OKR format.
The two OKR levels in Nooga Portfolio are:
Enterprise OKR (EOKR)
Long-term strategic direction, 2–5 years
Portfolio OKR (POKR)
Cconcrete outcome goals for the portfolio, 1–2 years
Why are my Objectives showing up as Portfolio OKRs (POKRs) instead of Enterprise OKRs (EOKRs)?
Applies to: Nooga Portfolio version 1.x (MVP)
This is controlled by the OKR Level field on the work item. To make an Objective appear as an Enterprise OKR, the OKR Level field must be set to Enterprise. If the field is set to Portfolio or left empty, the Objective will default to Portfolio OKR.
Check the OKR Level field on your existing Objectives and update it accordingly.
How do I create a Portfolio OKR?
Applies to: Nooga Portfolio version 1.x (MVP)
Portfolio OKRs are created directly in Azure DevOps as new work items. Create one work item for the Objective and one or more work items for the Key Results, with a parent-child relationship between them.
Make sure that the OKR Level field is set to Portfolio, and that the Area Path matches the Area Path of the portfolio you want the OKR to appear in.
Iteration Path is not currently used for OKRs in version 1.x, but Start and Target date fields can be used to indicate when an OKR is expected to be completed.
Why are Features and ARTs not showing up under Epics in the portfolio view?
Applies to: Nooga Portfolio version 1.x (MVP)
This is most likely caused by an Area Path configuration issue. It could also be related to user permissions. Check that the Area Path for your Features and ARTs matches the portfolio context, and that the relevant integrations are enabled under Settings.
If the issue persists, please contact support for assistance.
General Features & Functionality
What are the key features of Nooga Portfolio?
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Holistic Overview, connecting strategy to execution, context based zoom.
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OKRs as work items.
Which work item types does Nooga Portfolio support?
It supports common types such as:
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Epics
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Features
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It also supports custom work item types based on your configuration.
What happens to work items if I uninstall Nooga Portfolio?
Fields and updates added by Nooga Portfolio will remain on your work items. However, the Nooga Portfolio UI and related functionality will no longer be available.
Does the plugin work with all work item types?
Yes. It supports all standard Azure DevOps work item types and can also handle custom types you define.
Can I import work items or backlogs into Nooga Portfolio?
Yes. You can import backlogs, user stories, program increments, or portfolio items via Excel. (If you need specific import instructions, please ask.)
Can I customize the plugin to match our workflows and ceremonies?
Yes. Nooga Portfolio offers extensive configuration options to tailor it to your process and organizational needs.
Where can I find documentation for the plugin?
All user guides, manuals, and documentation are available in the Nooga Knowledge Base.
How often is Nooga Portfolio updated?
We follow a continuous delivery model. New features, improvements, and fixes are released frequently.
Licensing & Subscription
How do I renew, add, or transfer licenses for Nooga Portfolio?
Contact our sales or support team and specify the number of licenses, the organizations involved, and the user email addresses. For renewals, we’ll issue a quote or invoice and provide license keys upon payment. For transfers, provide the target organization and number of seats to move, and we’ll handle reassigning them.
Can I split a license payment over multiple credit cards or get procurement-friendly quote formats?
Yes. We can facilitate split payments and issue quotes in formats suitable for PO or procurement workflows. Just let us know your preferences when requesting.
What happens if my subscription expires? How do I reactivate it?
If your subscription expires, seats may revert to limited or trial mode, or stop working altogether. To reactivate, reach out to support for a new quote, invoice, and fresh license keys. No data will be lost for the same organization.
How do I cancel my Nooga Portfolio subscription?
Depending on your payment method, you may subscribe directly in-product or via Azure Marketplace; or you will have to send us an email with your organization name and the effective cancellation date. We’ll process it and confirm once the subscription is terminated.