Groups typically select Jira as an answer for subject monitoring, however the software program can even function a basic undertaking administration platform that will help you plan, monitor, and handle your agile software program improvement tasks — with out having to do a lot further work or set up any extra software program.
In truth, Jira features a pre-built template that gives a easy workflow that will help you coordinate assets and monitor duties related to a undertaking. We’ll use this template as a part of a step-by-step information on the right way to get began with Jira for undertaking administration.
What’s Jira?
Jira is software program that was initially designed for builders and engineers, but it surely has developed right into a full-service undertaking administration platform that may assist any group or division coordinate duties. Jira additionally connects seamlessly with different Atlassian merchandise comparable to Trello and Confluence, and it connects with many third-party instruments as nicely.
One clarifying be aware earlier than we dive in: This how-to information will concentrate on the right way to use Jira for undertaking administration, not Jira Service Administration (previously Jira Service Desk). Jira Service Administration affords extra instruments for service groups, comparable to a customer-facing portal that enables them to submit help requests. Whereas the software program names are comparable, and there’s some overlap in options, these are two separate merchandise that aren’t interchangeable.
Who’s Jira for?
On account of its concentrate on subject monitoring, Jira was initially created as a software for software program improvement groups, and it actually shines on this space when in comparison with different general-purpose undertaking administration software program. Nevertheless, Jira can be utilized by groups of all types, and it affords templates for advertising, design, gross sales, operations, human assets, authorized, finance, and extra.
SEE: A Full Information to Software program Growth Undertaking Administration
Learn how to use Jira for undertaking administration
Step 1: Select a Jira undertaking administration template
When you can construct a undertaking in Jira from scratch, you’ll save your self a number of work by selecting and customizing one among their pre-existing templates. First, head on over to Jira’s template library and browse the templates which might be designed to your group (we’ll be utilizing the undertaking administration template for the needs of this information).
- When you discover a template that you simply like, hit the massive blue “Use template” button on the proper hand aspect of your display.
- A pop-up will ask you to both choose an present Jira web site or create a brand new one.
- Make your choice, then hit the blue “Create page” button.
- Jira will open in a brand new tab and ask you to offer your undertaking a reputation.
- Sort it in, then click on the blue “Create project” button.
Step 2: Invite your teammates to Jira
Assuming this isn’t a solo undertaking, you’ll want to ask your teammates as a way to begin undertaking monitoring in Jira. Even when your teammates don’t have an Atlassian account already, you possibly can nonetheless add them on to your undertaking by clicking the spherical grey “Add people” button (which seems to be like a plus signal subsequent to an individual icon).
Sort of their emails, or add them straight out of your related Google, Microsoft, or Slack accounts. Then choose whether or not every particular person will probably be an Admin, Member, or Viewer; which function they’re given will decide their permissions and entry. When you’ve bought the roles set to your liking, hit the blue “Add” button.
Step 3: Configure your Jira undertaking
Now that you simply’ve bought your undertaking template arrange and invited all of your teammates, it’s time to truly configure your undertaking administration in Jira. On the prime of the undertaking window, you’ll see a horizontal bar that lists a number of undertaking view choices: Abstract, Board, Listing, Calendar, Timeline, and so forth.
To shortly add duties, choose the Listing view and hit the “Create” button. When you’ve entered all of the duties, scroll right down to assign every job to a group member and set a due date. If the duty isn’t presently being labored on, you possibly can go away the group task and due date fields clean to point that it’s a part of the backlog.
If you wish to customise your undertaking much more, replace every job’s standing, give it a class, set the precedence, and add a label. These extra {qualifications} make it simple to filter your duties to see solely particular ones, which will probably be extraordinarily useful down the road as you add extra of them. It’s also possible to create subtasks beneath a dad or mum job, which retains advanced tasks organized.
Step 4: Observe your progress
As your group proceeds along with your undertaking work, be sure that everyone seems to be updating and checking off duties as they’re accomplished. In case you are new to utilizing undertaking administration with Jira, it could take a while and apply to get used to managing your workflows in a brand new system, so be affected person and usually verify in along with your group.
Fortuitously, Jira affords a number of options that allow groups to watch how they’re doing. The Abstract tab of every undertaking acts as a dashboard that summarizes the important thing metrics of every undertaking. A number of the widgets embody a pie chart exhibiting in progress duties vs. accomplished duties, a bar chart that breaks down duties by precedence, and a group workload chart that reveals how a lot work every particular person has been assigned.
Jira additionally affords a local time monitoring function, so you possibly can see how a lot time is being spent on every job. If you happen to want extra capabilities than Jira’s native time monitoring function, you may also choose a third-party time monitoring software from the Atlassian market.
Step 5: Full your undertaking in Jira
As soon as your group has lastly checked off all of your duties and accomplished the undertaking, it’s time to shut it out. There are two methods to do that in Jira—learn solely and archive. If you happen to nonetheless need folks to give you the option learn the undertaking and duplicate it, set the permissions to learn solely. If you wish to utterly retire the undertaking, use the archive perform to take away it from energetic use.
Key options and advantages of Jira for undertaking administration
Template library
Jira affords dozens of templates that make it simple to create a brand new undertaking and begin setting it up proper out of the field. These templates are tailor-made to totally different groups’ wants in addition to totally different undertaking administration methodologies.
A number of the methodologies supported by Jira templates embody:
- Agile undertaking administration.
- Scrum undertaking administration.
- Kanban undertaking administration.
- Lean undertaking administration.
- Waterfall undertaking administration.
Crew collaboration instruments
There are a number of methods to collaborate along with your group in Jira. You’ll be able to tag one another in feedback on duties and react to them with emojis to point out that you simply’ve learn them. It’s also possible to combine Jira with standard work communication instruments, comparable to Slack, to be able to hold utilizing acquainted platforms whereas ensuring Jira stays up to date.
Automation
All that point spent updating job statuses actually provides up. To scale back pointless repetitive work, Jira affords automations to maintain issues transferring with out customers lifting a finger. Some examples of automations embody auto-assigning work, syncing dad or mum and youngster duties, and cloning points. Jira affords various pre-built automation templates to select from, and you may also create your individual from scratch as nicely.
Reporting and analytics
Crew-managed tasks in Jira get entry to 4 kinds of reviews: the burnup report, the cumulative circulate diagram, the speed report, and the spring burndown chart. Jira additionally embeds metrics in every undertaking to be able to monitor your progress with out having to click on over to a separate reporting module. Extra metrics additionally seem within the widgets on the Abstract tab of every undertaking.
FAQ
Is Jira appropriate for undertaking administration?
Sure, Jira was designed as a undertaking administration resolution for software program improvement groups, however it may be utilized by many several types of groups as nicely. In case you are in search of an easier undertaking administration software program with a decrease studying curve, we additionally suggest testing Trello, one other Atlassian software program that focuses on kanban boards for undertaking administration.
Learn how to use Jira to trace undertaking progress?
Jira embeds metrics straight within the undertaking views to be able to monitor your undertaking progress because the work is accomplished. The deployment frequency and cycle time insights make it attainable to optimize your workflows as you go. When you’ve accomplished a number of tasks in Jira, it can additionally have the ability to undertaking insights and analytics from the backlog that will help you enhance future tasks. Jira additionally offers a local time monitoring function, or you possibly can allow a third-party time monitoring.
Can Jira do Gantt charts?
Jira affords two barely totally different Gantt chart choices, known as Timeline and Roadmaps. Timeline shows a Gantt chart for a single undertaking or group. Roadmaps show Gantt charts for your entire group, permitting for extra long-term strategic planning.
How do I take advantage of Jira as a undertaking supervisor?
In terms of utilizing Jira for undertaking managers, first create an Atlassian account and select a template to make use of in Jira. Then invite your teammates to your undertaking and configure the undertaking information. Observe your progress as you go, then archive the undertaking or change it to read-only as soon as all of the duties are accomplished.