Introduction To Workflows | Workflows

What is a Workflow?

A workflow in Jira represents the business process management of issues in your project. It defines the sequence of steps that an issue goes through, from creation to completion. Each step in the workflow is called a 'status', and the transitions between these statuses are called 'transitions'. Workflows are essential for managing and tracking the progress of tasks and ensuring that they move through the necessary stages before completion.

Key Components of a Workflow

Jira workflows consist of the following key components:

Statuses: The steps or stages that an issue goes through (e.g., Open, In Progress, Done).
Transitions: The actions that move an issue from one status to another (e.g., Start Progress, Resolve Issue).
Conditions: Rules that must be met before a transition is available to the user.
Validators: Checks that are performed before a transition is executed.
Post Functions: Actions that are performed automatically after a transition is executed (e.g., updating a field, sending a notification).

Creating a Workflow

Creating a workflow in Jira involves defining the statuses and transitions that represent your process. Here is a basic example of how to create a simple workflow:

1. Navigate to Jira Administration > Issues > Workflows.

2. Click on the Add Workflow button.

3. Enter a name for your workflow and click Add.

4. Add statuses (e.g., Open, In Progress, Done).

5. Define transitions between statuses (e.g., from Open to In Progress, from In Progress to Done).

6. Publish the workflow.

Example Workflow

Let's consider a simple example of a software development workflow:

Open: Initial status when an issue is created.
In Progress: The issue is being actively worked on.
Code Review: The issue is under code review.
QA: The issue is being tested by QA.
Done: The issue is completed and closed.

Transitions:

Start Progress: Moves issue from Open to In Progress.
Submit for Review: Moves issue from In Progress to Code Review.
Approve: Moves issue from Code Review to QA.
Pass QA: Moves issue from QA to Done.

Applying a Workflow to a Project

Once you've created a workflow, you need to associate it with a project. Here are the steps to do this:

1. Navigate to Jira Administration > Projects.

2. Select the project you want to associate with the workflow.

3. Go to Workflows section.

4. Click on Add Workflow.

5. Select your workflow from the list and click Next.

6. Map the statuses in your workflow to issue types in your project and click Finish.

Editing a Workflow

You may need to edit a workflow to reflect changes in your processes. Here are the steps to edit a workflow:

1. Navigate to Jira Administration > Issues > Workflows.

2. Select the workflow you want to edit.

3. Click on Edit.

4. Make the necessary changes to statuses, transitions, conditions, validators, and post functions.

5. Publish the workflow.

Common Use Cases

Here are some common use cases for workflows in Jira:

Bug Tracking: Track the lifecycle of a bug from reporting to resolution.
Feature Development: Manage the development process of a new feature from inception to deployment.
Service Desk: Handle customer support tickets from submission to resolution.

Conclusion

Workflows are a powerful feature in Jira that help streamline and manage the processes within your projects. By defining clear statuses and transitions, you can ensure that issues move smoothly from creation to completion. Understanding and utilizing workflows effectively can significantly enhance your team's productivity and project management capabilities.

Introduction to Workflows in Jira