Say goodbye to the time-consuming era of planning projects on bulky spreadsheets – a thing of the past. Jira stands out as one of the leading open-source testing software solutions, with global trust from leading companies, including Cisco, Spotify, and others. In this blog, we will discuss Jira project management in detail and figure out how it can help you do your tasks in a breeze.
Table of Contents
Before we dive any further, watch the video on Jira Full Course to understand the concepts of Jira
What is Jira Project Management? Overview
Jira software is a special tool one can use to make their team’s work super smooth. It acts as a project’s assistant. It helps keep track of what needs to be done, who’s doing it, and where everything is.
Utilizing Jira enables the creation of a digital project workspace. You can list all the tasks you need to finish, and Jira will help you organize them. It’s like having a neat and systematic to-do list that everyone can see.
Jira for small businesses enables companies to follow a step-by-step plan. It empowers firms to track who’s doing what, what’s done, and what’s left. Thus, it helps to finish projects without things getting chaotic.
Why Use Jira for Project Management?
Jira software is like a teamwork helper. For large enterprises, it is quite important because it makes sure everyone is on the same page and everything gets done. There are several other reasons to use Jira project management, some of which are listed below:
- Simple Task Checklist: Jira helps teams figure out what tasks need to be done and by whom.
- Visual Progress: Jira makes keeping up with tasks simple by showing progress reports of individuals as well as teams. Jira displays how far each has traveled over time making it simple to track how far progress has been made.
- Assignment of Roles: Jira offers the selection of suitable specialists for particular tasks. For instance, if someone excels in design, they can be assigned design tasks. Jira provides clarity on task ownership by indicating who is responsible for each specific assignment.
- Priorities and Deadlines: Jira reminds you of your priorities and deadlines. You can note down what work is most crucial to you and your team. This allows your team to focus on the most important tasks.
- Collaboration: Jira is a great place to collaborate. In Jira, you can comment on tasks, ask questions, and share ideas. This works like leaving notes for our fellow members of the board.
Also, Check our blog on Project Report: Format, Types and Benefits.
Key Features of Jira Project Management
Let us discuss some of the most important features of Jira project management that might have gone unnoticed.
Jira Project Tracking
The Jira project tracking software tracks an ongoing project at any stage. Also, Jira utilizes JQL to solve issues, depending on numerous criteria and projects.
With the help of this tool, one can create stories or tasks from any screen.
Reports in Jira
Jira displays relevant data in the form of reports. These reports showcase the statistics of the project throughout its lifecycle. You can find several reports in Jira.
- To access these reports, you have to go to Project → then choose your specific project.
- Click on “Project settings” on the left corner and then select “Features”, you will find several features there.
- Now select “reports”.
- Next, go back to the project, and on the left corner, you will find “Reports.” Click on it
- The below window will appear, demonstrating the various types of reports in Jira project management.
Real-Time Notification
Jira project management has notification features. It offers information to its users whenever they need it. You can set up emails to know when things change in your tasks. Also, if a task is overdue, you get an email reminder for that too.
Agile Terms & Concepts Used in Jira
Let us discuss the Agile terminologies of Jira project management with the help of some real-life examples.
The below points can help you understand the role of each concept in Jira project management.
Listing: Imagine you’re planning a picnic. You’d make a list of things like food, games, and a blanket. In Jira, these lists are called “issues.” Each task or thing we need to do is called an issue.
Tickets: Tickets in Jira serve as digital to-do cards that represent individual pieces of work that need to be done, such as tasks, bug fixes, or feature development. They allow team members to track progress while working collaboratively toward completion.
Bucket: Jira Buckets provide a way to organize and group tickets together into similar sets – providing an effective way to stay organized while making it simpler to locate and manage specific sets.
Issues: Issues in Jira refer to any problem, task, request, or idea requiring attention or action; this may range from fixing bugs to creating new features; tickets are created for issues.
Task: A task is a specific activity or piece of work required as part of a project that needs to be completed to progress forward. Unlike tickets or issues, tasks tend to be assigned directly to team members for completion and tracked closely for progress updates.
Assignees: In Jira, “assignees” are like actors in a movie, where each actor has a specific role to play. “Assignees” in Jira are responsible for completing specific issues.
Comments: Jira “comments” let us talk about tasks, share updates, and ask questions.
Boards: Picture an Excel sheet with columns for “To Do,” “In Progress,” and “Done.” Our Jira “boards” are like that. We move our issues across these columns as we work on them. It’s like checking things off your list one by one.
Backlog: Have you ever had a great idea but not been ready to use it? That’s where the “backlog“ comes in. It’s like a drawer where we keep our ideas until we’re ready to work on them.
Sprints: Just like a race is divided into laps, our projects are divided into “sprints”. Each “sprint” is a short period where we focus on specific tasks. It’s like running short races to win the big race!
Epics: Think of the “Harry Potter” book series with many volumes. Each book has its own story, but they’re all part of the big adventure. “Epics” are like that. The group issues related to a big goal, just like a book series.
Scrum: Scrum is an agile framework used for project management, most frequently software development. It entails breaking a project down into individual user stories before organizing and completing them within short cycles called sprints, to promote collaboration, adaptability, and continuous improvement.
Dashboards: Imagine we have a big map showing the whole picnic area. Jira “dashboards” are like that map, but for our projects, where we see everything at once!
Reports: Remember when we used to show our grades to parents? Jira “reports” are similar, they show our project’s health and progress.
Learn Jira by enrolling in Jira Certification Course today!
What are Jira Workflows?
Jira Workflows are like roadmaps that show the organized steps your team or group follows to get a task done. It’s like having a set of instructions that everyone can follow to finish the job successfully. It also reflects how work is done within your team or organization.
In other words, the journey that your tasks follow from the beginning to the end is referred to as a “workflow.” This workflow consists of various steps known as statuses and transitions.
As your task evolves over time, it moves through these different statuses. These statuses represent the transitions your task goes through.
Jira workflows are used in almost every industry. Let us take an example of an Ed-tech company’s content department. This workflow ensures that content is created, reviewed, refined, and checked for technical accuracy before it’s published. If any mistakes are found at any stage, the content is sent back for improvements to maintain high quality.
Step 1: Content Creation by Writer
The writer starts by creating the initial draft of the content. After he/she has written the content, the bucket moves to the next stage, where it goes to the editing team.
Step 2: Editing and Rectification
Once the bucket comes to stage 2, the content is checked thoroughly for any grammatical mistakes. If there are any spelling or grammar mistakes, they are fixed. There are two possibilities in such a case:
Case 1: If there were no or minor changes, the updated content is sent ahead for QA.
Case 2: If the content requires major changes, it is sent back to the writer.
Let us consider Case 1 first
Step 3: QA- Technical Check
Once the content is free from major errors, it’s sent to the QA team. The QA team checks the content from a technical standpoint. They do a competitive analysis of the blog and if they find anything missing in the content, they ask the editing team to get in touch with the writers and ask them to make the changes.
In another case, if the content does not require any changes, it is pushed forward to the publishing bucket.
Step 4: Publishing
The content undergoes a final check before it’s published. If everything is fine, the content is published.
Let us consider Case 2 now
The first two steps remain the same, the content is written, checked for grammatical mistakes. But if the content needs major changes, it is sent back to the writer. Let us now discuss the next steps.
Step 3: Writer Revises Content
The writer makes the necessary changes based on the feedback. It is then pushed forward to the other bucket. There can be two cases in such a case:
Case 1: The revised content is reviewed again. If the issues still persist, it goes back to the writer for further refinement.
Case 2: If the content becomes error-free, it goes through the QA process.
Step 4: QA
Case 1: If the content is good enough, it goes ahead for publishing.
Case 2: If the content still has some issues, it goes back to the writer again. The same procedure is carried out thereafter.
Check out the Top Jira Interview Questions and Answers to crack your next interview!
How to Use Jira for Project Management
You start by setting up a template, creating tasks based on your plan, managing permissions, tracking progress, and using agile methodologies if needed. This is just a gist, we will discuss how we can use Jira for project management in detail below.
Step 1: Set Up Templates for Jira Project Management
- Templates are like starting points that match your company’s style.
- Jira helps manage projects and has ready-made templates.
- Choose a template that fits your team’s work and the tools you already use.
- This step is important for smooth project flow.
Step 2: Create Issues According to Your Project Plan
- Once you have a template, create tasks or “issues” in Jira.
- Use tools to plan and assign these tasks.
- These tasks can include due dates, descriptions, documents, and links.
- If a project is big, break it into smaller tasks for better control.
Step 3: Use Teams and Permissions as a Project Manager
- Assign tasks to team members using Jira’s permission settings.
- Share tasks with the whole team or specific members.
- Set permissions for accessing tasks and other settings.
Step 4: Tracking Your Projects
- Tracking progress is crucial in project management.
- Keep an eye on the team’s performance, task times, and deadlines.
- Jira helps you visualize this information.
- Plugins like Structure, Gantt Charts, and Tempo Planner can be helpful.
Step 5: Take Advantage of Jira’s Agile Project Management Methodology
- Jira supports agile project management styles like Scrum and Kanban.
- Customize workflows to fit your team’s needs.
- Use user stories to clarify project activities.
- Jira supports Scrum’s framework, including sprint planning and retrospectives.
How to Create a New Project in Jira
Jira administrators can create and start projects using various templates, whether they’re for the entire company or specific teams. Regular users can also create their own team-specific projects, like Scrum or Kanban projects. Admins can adjust this in the settings. Let us discuss the steps to create a new Jira project.
Starting a Project
- Go to “Projects” and choose “Create project.”
- You’ll find different templates that match the things you’re working on. For example, in the “Products” section, the templates are organized based on different kinds of tasks you might have done before.
- Choose a category or a product template that suits your project.
Choosing and Using a Template
- Look into the available templates to understand them better. Pick one that suits your project’s needs
- Learn about the template details and click on “Use template.”
Deciding Project Type and Name
- You’ll have two choices for the type of project: one managed by the company or one managed by your team.
- Give your project a name that makes sense. If you change your mind about the template, you can switch it too.
- Once you’re ready, hit “Create.”
Jira generates a unique code (project key) for your project when you create it. The person who creates the project is set as the project leader by default. If you want to adjust these details later:
- Open your project’s settings from the sidebar
- Click on “Details” to make changes
Jira remembers the template you picked and uses it as the default when you make new projects.
Explore these Project Management Interview Questions and ace your next interview with ease!
Pros and Cons of Jira Project Management
The pros and cons of Jira project management are represented in the table below.
| Pros of Jira Project Management |
Cons of Jira Project Management |
| Efficient task tracking and management |
Can be overwhelming for small teams or simple projects |
| Integration with other tools and apps for seamless work |
Some features might feel complex |
| Comprehensive reporting and analytics for project insights |
Requires regular updates and maintenance for optimal performance |
| Jira for small businesses is quite affordable |
Pricing can be relatively higher for larger teams or organizations |
| Scalable to accommodate growing teams and projects |
Initial setup and configuration can be time-consuming |
Conclusion
Overall, Jira Project Management offers beginners a reliable platform to streamline tasks, enhance collaboration, and gain valuable insights. While there may be an initial learning curve associated with its customization and integration features, they prove indispensable tools in project execution. As newcomers delve into its functionalities, Jira transforms into a dependable companion, empowering them to venture into project management with increased assurance.
FAQs
Is Jira suitable for beginners with no technical background?
Yes, Jira is designed for users of varying technical expertise. Even if you don’t have any expertise in the subject, you can still learn it.
Can Jira be used for different project methodologies?
Absolutely, Jira supports various project methodologies, including Agile and non-Agile approaches. It offers customizable workflows, enabling you to adapt it to your team’s preferred method.
Yes, Jira offers integrations with a wide range of tools, including Slack, Confluence, and Trello. This allows teams to connect their favorite apps and streamline their workflows.
Is Jira for small businesses as well as large enterprises?
Absolutely, Jira is scalable and can adapt to the needs of both small and large teams. It offers project customization options, making it suitable for teams of varying sizes and complexities.
What are some Jira best practices?
Some of the best Jira practices include- Using clear and concise issue titles. This will help you and your team find the information they need quickly.
Using a consistent naming convention for your issues. This will make it easier to track and manage your work.
What are some Jira tips and tricks?
Use automation to save time. Jira has a number of automation features that can help you automate repetitive tasks.
Use the dashboard to track your progress. The dashboard is a great way to see what work is outstanding, what work is in progress, and what work has been completed.