In today's project management landscape, utilizing tools like Jira is essential for the successful operation of teams. However, to make the most of this tool, it’s crucial to understand how to create tasks correctly and what information needs to be included so that developers have all the necessary details for their work.
Types of Tasks in Jira
Let’s start with the main types of tasks you will encounter in Jira: Epic, Story, Bug, Task, and Sub-task.
- Epic: An Epic is a large user story that cannot be completed within a single iteration and can be broken down into smaller tasks. Epics often require development that spans multiple sprints, especially if you are following the Scrum methodology.
- Story: A Story is a component of a larger Epic that the team can complete in one sprint. It describes functionality from the end-user's perspective and is typically formatted as: "As a [type of user], I want to [do something], so that [I can achieve a goal]."
- Task: A Task is a technical job performed by a team member. Generally, technical tasks are not collaborative but are necessary for the successful completion of Epics.
- Sub-task: A Sub-task is a portion of a Story or Task that describes the minimal amount of work for one team member. Breaking down tasks into Sub-tasks allows for more accurate effort estimation.
- Bug: A Bug is a task that captures errors that need to be analyzed and fixed. Sometimes, it can be challenging for the product owner to understand the nature of the bug, and priorities may be misaligned, leading to a decline in product quality.
How to Fill Out Tasks
When creating a User Story, it’s important to follow a specific structure. The title should reflect the essence of the task. For example: "Creating a Sales Report: Analyzing Monthly Data to Optimize the Product Range." The description should provide information that helps the team better understand the task. Examples of user stories might look like this:
- As a website administrator, I want to create a sales report so that I can analyze monthly sales and make inventory decisions.
- As a BA, I can segment website visitors into two groups and conduct an A/B test on the homepage to increase conversion.
- As a content manager, I can add an interactive chart to any blog page to make posts more engaging.
Additionally, it’s helpful to include acceptance criteria for each user story. For example, for the first case, these could include:
- The report includes data for the specified period.
- The report can be exported in CSV format.
- The report displays data categorized by product type.
It is also advisable to use labels for better task filtering. Specify the priority and estimate for the task (e.g., 5 story points) and add it to the first sprint.
If necessary, break tasks down into Sub-tasks so that different team members can begin their work on separate aspects of the task. For instance, a designer might work on the design, while a front-end developer implements the layout. If you have a single developer, breaking it down into stages may not be essential, but it can still aid in estimation.
Helpful Tips
- For Epics, add links to documentation and technical specifications to ensure the team has a shared understanding.
- When creating a bug, try to answer the questions [What] [Where] [When] and include screenshots or videos for clarity.
- We recommend using the Lightshot tool for screenshots, which allows for annotations.
- If you are working in Scrum, estimate the task during planning and fill in the estimate together with the team.
- Use the AI assistant in Jira to help draft tickets – this can simplify the process.
How do you create tickets for your projects? Share your thoughts in the comments and feel free to share screenshots!
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