create epic in jira

3 min read 06-10-2024

Creating an epic in Jira is a crucial part of project management, especially for teams practicing Agile methodologies. Epics serve as high-level containers for a series of related tasks and user stories, allowing teams to break down large initiatives into manageable parts. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to create an epic in Jira, answer frequently asked questions, and provide additional insights to enhance your understanding of epics.

What is an Epic?

An epic in Jira is a large body of work that can be broken down into smaller tasks, known as user stories. It typically represents a significant feature or requirement and spans multiple sprints. For example, if a company is developing a new e-commerce website, an epic might be “User Account Management,” which would then include stories like “User Registration,” “Login Functionality,” and “Password Recovery.”

Steps to Create an Epic in Jira

Creating an epic in Jira is straightforward. Here’s how to do it:

Log in to Your Jira Account: Ensure you have the necessary permissions to create epics.
Navigate to Your Project: Go to the project where you want to create the epic. This could be a software development project, a marketing campaign, or any other initiative.
Access the Backlog: Click on the “Backlog” view in your project. This is typically found in the left-hand menu.
Select ‘Create Epic’:
- In the backlog view, look for the “Epics” panel, usually located on the left side.
- Click on the “Create Epic” button.
Fill Out Epic Details: You will be prompted to enter details about your epic. Include:
- Epic Name: A concise title that summarizes the epic.
- Summary: A brief description of the epic’s goal.
- Additional Details: You can add information such as the start date, due date, and any relevant labels.
Save the Epic: After entering all the necessary details, click “Create” or “Save.” Your epic will now appear in the backlog and can be linked to various user stories and tasks.
Link User Stories: To break down your epic into manageable stories, create user stories and link them to your epic by selecting the epic in the story's epic link field.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Difference Between an Epic and a Story?

An epic is a larger body of work that can be divided into several user stories. User stories are smaller, actionable tasks that contribute to the completion of the epic. For instance, the epic "User Account Management" might include stories like "Allow users to reset passwords" and "Enable two-factor authentication."

2. Can an Epic Span Multiple Projects?

While an epic is typically confined to a single project, teams can manage cross-project initiatives by creating an epic in one project and referencing it in other projects. Jira allows for linking issues across projects, enabling visibility and coordination.

3. What is the Best Practice for Managing Epics?

To effectively manage epics:

Regularly review and update your epics based on feedback and changing priorities.
Use labels and components to categorize and organize epics for better visibility.
Monitor progress using Jira's reporting tools, such as burn-down charts and epic reports.

Additional Tips for Using Epics in Jira

Prioritize Your Epics

It's essential to prioritize your epics to ensure your team is working on the most impactful tasks. Consider using a prioritization framework like MoSCoW (Must have, Should have, Could have, Won't have) to help with this.

Leverage Jira Filters and Dashboards

To enhance visibility, create custom filters and dashboards in Jira that focus specifically on epics. This way, stakeholders can quickly see the status of different epics and their associated tasks.

Conduct Retrospectives

After completing an epic, hold a retrospective meeting with your team to evaluate what went well and what could be improved. This reflection is critical for refining your processes and ensuring continuous improvement.

Conclusion

Creating and managing epics in Jira is vital for successfully implementing Agile practices. By breaking down large initiatives into manageable parts, teams can focus on delivering value incrementally. Remember to leverage the tools Jira provides to track progress, engage with stakeholders, and continuously improve your workflow.

By understanding the importance of epics, implementing best practices, and using the tools effectively, you’ll be well on your way to enhancing your project management skills and driving your team’s success.

Attribution: Special thanks to the contributors at GitHub for their discussions and information that inspired this article.