The hardest part of project management is collaborating with different departments and team members. Regarding collaboration and collective efforts, Jira is the go-to software for most prominent organizations and project managers. The easy-to-use and efficient part of Jira is the Scrum and Kanban boards, which help organizations and project managers deliver their completed work more efficiently, effectively, and rapidly.
In this blog, we will explore what Jira Scrum and Kanban boards are, how to set them up, and how to use Scrum and Kanban in Jira boards.
What are Jira Scrum and Kanban Boards?
Scrum and Kanban are visual tools designed by Jira for project management. They track work progress and manage tasks and workflow. Both are essential parts of Jira and are used by organizations that follow an agile project management framework. Scrum and Kanban are the most powerful project management tools.
A Scrum board is designed for the team to work according to the Scrum framework. Scrum boards focus on the short, time-boxed work cycle called sprints. They use the ideal sprint length based on their project range and financial and human resources. The boards help the team members complete their tasks and jobs within each sprint.
In contrast, Kanban boards are designed for project managers and team members who work and prefer continuous workflows. The Kanban boards use columns to visualize the different stages of tasks and projects and keep track of the work.
Setting Up the Scrum Board in Jira
If you work according to the scrum framework, creating the scrum board in Jira is like a piece of cake. Follow these steps to set up the scrum board for your new project.
- First of all, click on “Create a new project”.
- Next, select “ Scrum Board.”
- When choosing the board type, decide whether to create the board for existing or new projects.
- Start by adding the tasks or stories to your sprints. These will be the work or tasks you will work on during the project.
- After adding tasks, drag them from the backlog to the sprint section.
- Choose the sprint life cycle or length (two weeks)
- Once everything is ready, click “Start Sprint” to track your team members’ progress.
Setting Up Kanban Board in Jira
As a project manager, if you want a continuous workflow, setting up the Kanban board in Jira is just a few clicks away.
Here are the simple and easy-to-follow steps to create the Kanban board in Jira:
- Go to the project template and create a new project.
- Click on Software Development from the template.
- Now select “Kanban Jira” on the screen.
- Once the columns are displayed, customize them accordingly (To Do, In Progress, Done).
- You can also add or rename the columns according to the need and requirement of work.
- Add or drag the task to the columns.
- You can drag and drop the tasks into columns to track or monitor the progress.
- Define and clear the limit for each task in the columns so the team doesn’t take too much time on a single task.
Using Scrum and Kanban Jira Boards
A Jira board is a powerful solution for effectively organizing workflows and addressing challenges. It gives you all the information and details about the project and your team. Jira boards can provide you with information about the progress of the project and the teamwork of different departments and team members. These boards aim to stay organized and focus on the project goal.
Jira boards work with both of the boards. Whether you want to work according to the scrum framework, which is Sprints, or you want to manage the ongoing tasks that are Kanban, Jira is capable of working smoothly with both of them. Let’s see how to use Scrum and Kanban Boards in Jira and what they can offer:
1. Jira Software Board Creation
When the organization starts the project, Jira first creates the board template. When setting up a new project in Jira Software, you can choose the board type that best fits your team’s workflow.
Jira offers two primary options: Scrum boards, designed for sprint teams with time-bound iterations, and Kanban boards, perfect for teams focusing on continuous delivery and task prioritization. During project creation, simply select the board type, and Jira will tailor the project settings accordingly.
The most important thing is that you must choose the methodology (Scrum or Kanban) before starting any project, as you can’t switch from one process to another once you start the project.
2. Board Configuration
The main feature of the board configuration is it allows you to customize the Jira board according to your project needs and demands. The board administrator has access to make specific changes.
Board configuration will enable you to make changes in the columns, ranking, swimlanes, and all the other significant changes needed. Adding color to the board makes it easier for the team members to see the tasks and deadlines easily.
3. Using the Scrum Backlog
The two main sections of the scrum backlog are the backlog and sprints. The project managers can easily create the issues, update them, and delete them once they are completed.
With a drag-and-drop feature, Jira makes it easy for project managers to manage their tasks. You can move the issues into sprints, rank them, or add stories to epic as needed and required. Remember that some features require specific actions, such as the project administrator making the sprints and, later on, permitting the team members.
4. Active Sprints
The scrum board uses active sprints to manage the ongoing work or task, while the Kanban board focuses on monitoring work. Active sprints allow the project managers to add or drop the issues into the workflow as needed. These boards are updated every two minutes.
Some of the problems within these boards may be visible, while others won’t. Active sprints are highly flexible. It allows the project manager to create and move issues to different sprints. In this way, everyone on board will be updated, and the project will be up to date.
5. Using the Kanban Backlog
The Kanban backlog is only available if the software administrator allows it for the other users. Using this section is very easy if there are a few issues, but as the number of problems increases, the complexity comes with using this section. However, Easy Agile helps make this complexity easy and keeps it organized.
The administrator can quickly move the issues into a hidden section or to the epics in the expanded version. Based on the planning needs, they can also transfer the transfer issues between the backlog and the “Selected for Development.”
6. Kanban Monitoring
Unlike active sprints, Kanban tracks project delivery through continuous delivery. To keep the team focused and organized, the project manager can easily update and clarify information for the team members.
The administrator can efficiently perform tasks such as estimating stories, creating sub-tasks, managing user stories, filtering, releasing, and handling issues. The Kanban board makes monitoring problems at any project stage very easy.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the two types of Jira?
There are two types of Jira: Scrum and Kanban. Scrum is for teams that work in sprints, while Kanban is for those who want a continuous workflow.
2. Can you combine Kanban and Scrum?
Yes, you can combine Kanban and Scrum. This approach is called Scrumban.
3. Can you have sprints in kanban jira?
Kanban in Jira doesn’t have sprints. But you can add the sprints to Jira using Scrumban.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both Scrum and Kanban boards in Jira are powerful and essential tools for project management. Each one has its purpose and can be used accordingly. Scrum is ideal for sprint teamwork, while Kanban is perfect for continuous workflows. Jira Scrum and Kanban boards make project management easier and more organized. By using these boards, teams can work better together, see progress clearly, and complete tasks faster.
