Creating Workflows in Jira

Introduction

Workflows in Jira represent the process that a task goes through from creation to completion. They define the statuses and transitions that tasks (issues) can have. Creating a workflow involves several steps which we will cover comprehensively in this tutorial.

Step 1: Accessing the Workflow Section

To begin creating a workflow in Jira, you need to navigate to the workflow section:

1. Log into your Jira account.
2. Click on the Settings icon (gear) in the top right corner.
3. Under Jira Settings, click on Issues.
4. In the left sidebar, click on Workflows.

Step 2: Creating a New Workflow

Once you're in the workflows section, follow these steps to create a new workflow:

1. Click on the Add Workflow button.
2. Provide a name and description for your workflow, then click on Next.
3. You will be presented with a blank canvas where you can start adding statuses and transitions.

Step 3: Adding Statuses

Statuses represent the different stages that an issue can be in. To add statuses:

1. Click on the Add Status button.
2. Enter the status name (e.g., "To Do", "In Progress", "Done").
3. Choose a category for the status (To Do, In Progress, Done), then click on Add.

Step 4: Adding Transitions

Transitions define the movement between statuses. To add transitions:

1. Click on a status (e.g., "To Do") and drag it to another status (e.g., "In Progress").
2. Name the transition (e.g., "Start Progress").
3. Repeat the process to connect all statuses appropriately.

Step 5: Publishing the Workflow

After creating your workflow, the final step is to publish it:

1. Click on the Publish Draft button.
2. Jira may prompt you to save your workflow as a new draft if there are any unsaved changes.
3. Once published, the workflow will be available to be assigned to projects and issue types.

Step 6: Assigning the Workflow to a Project

To use your newly created workflow, you need to assign it to a project:

1. Go to the Project Settings of the project you want to assign the workflow to.
2. Click on Workflows in the left sidebar.
3. Click on Add Workflow and select your newly created workflow.
4. Map the workflow statuses to issue types as required and click on Finish.

Conclusion

Creating workflows in Jira is a powerful way to manage the lifecycle of issues within your projects. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can design workflows that suit your project's specific needs, ensuring that all tasks are tracked and managed efficiently.