How to Configure a Jira Dashboard

Edited 3 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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JIRA is a popular project management tool used by teams to effectively plan, monitor, release, and report on activities. One of JIRA's core functionalities is its dashboard feature, which provides an at-a-glance view of your projects and tasks. Configuring your JIRA dashboard can greatly improve your ability to track projects efficiently. The purpose of this lesson is to give you a step-by-step guide to effectively setting up your JIRA dashboard.

Understanding the basics of Jira dashboard

A Jira dashboard is a visual display of various metrics and information based on the data available in your Jira instance. Dashboards can be customized to show the most important details to your needs and help you track issues, assignees, project progress, and more.

You can create multiple dashboards in Jira and share them with your team or keep them private. Before we dive into the configuration, it's important to understand that a good dashboard is clear, organized, and provides information that can be acted upon immediately.

Creating a JIRA Dashboard

To start creating a Jira dashboard, you need to follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Jira account.
2. Go to the “Dashboard” menu at the top of the page.
3. Click on “Manage Dashboards.” This will take you to a screen where all the existing dashboards are listed.
4. Click on the “Create New Dashboard” button.
5. Enter the name of your new dashboard in the “Name” text box.
6. Add a description if you want. Although this is optional, providing a description can be helpful in understanding the purpose of the dashboard at a glance.
7. Choose access controls for your dashboard. You can make it private or share it with certain teams or users.
8. Save the dashboard.

You have now successfully created a new dashboard. The next step is to configure its content.

Adding gadgets to the dashboard

Gadgets are the main components of a Jira dashboard. They display specific information or data pulled from your project, such as task lists, progress charts, or activity streams. Here's how you can add gadgets to your dashboard:

1. Go to the dashboard you created in the previous step.
2. Click the “Add Gadget” button on the right side of the screen. This will open a new window with the available gadgets.
3. Browse the list of available gadgets or use the search bar to find a specific gadget.
4. Click “Add it now” for each gadget you want to include on your dashboard.
5. Close the Gadgets window once you have added all the desired gadgets.

Some popular gadgets include:

• Activity Stream: Provides a log of all recent activities in your projects.
• Pie Chart: Displays issues by filter in a pie chart format.
• Filter Results: Displays a list of issues based on the saved filters.
• Two-dimensional filter statistics: Shows the statistics for the saved filters in a tabular format.

Configuring gadget settings

Once the gadgets are on the dashboard, it's important to configure them to receive and display the right data. Here's how:

1. Find the gadget you want to configure on your dashboard.
2. Click the “…” (more options) menu or the “Edit” pencil icon inside the gadget.
3. You'll see different configuration options depending on the functionality of the specific gadget. Common settings include choosing a project or filter, choosing the fields to display, and setting the refresh interval.
4. Adjust the settings as needed depending on what you want to display or track.
5. Save changes.

Let's say you've added a Pie Chart gadget and want to show issues based on their status:

Project: Select your project Statistic Type: Status Chart Size: Medium

This configuration will create a pie chart that will divide all issues from the selected project based on their status, giving you a visual representation of the work distribution.

Organize your dashboard

A well-organized dashboard helps save time and makes information retrieval more efficient. Here's how you can organize your Jira dashboard:

• Rearrange gadgets: Drag and drop gadgets to rearrange their position on the dashboard. Try to keep the most important gadgets at the top for a quick overview.
• Column Layout: Jira provides several column layout options for dashboards. Use the "Edit Layout" option to choose the most appropriate view (e.g., one-column, two-column, etc.).

Share your dashboard

Jira allows you to share dashboards with individual users or groups within your organization. You can also specify what kind of access level others can have.

1. Open the dashboard.
2. Click the "..." (more options) button beside the dashboard name.
3. Select “Share Dashboard.”
4. In the sharing options, specify whether you want to share it with groups, projects, or individual users, and set the access level.
5. Save changes.

By sharing dashboards, you ensure that your team gets a consistent overview of the project, which can lead to better collaboration and productivity.

Advanced tips to improve your dashboard

To get the most out of your Jira dashboard, consider the following advanced tips:

• Use filters effectively: Filters help limit the issues displayed in the gadget. Use Jira Query Language (JQL) effectively to create precise filters.
• Limit the number of gadgets: Having too many gadgets on your dashboard can be overwhelming. Show only what's necessary for your tracking needs.
• Update and review regularly: Review your dashboard settings and gadgets regularly to ensure they align with your ongoing project needs.
• Use different dashboards for different projects: If you manage multiple projects, consider creating separate dashboards for each to avoid clutter and confusion.

To fully configure the Jira dashboard to suit your team's needs, you need to understand your objectives, select the appropriate gadgets, and continuously refine it based on feedback and changes in project requirements. By following these guidelines, you can create a powerful tool for monitoring and moving your projects forward.

Final thoughts

Jira dashboards are incredibly versatile and when used correctly, can transform the way you and your team work. They enable you to make quick decisions by allowing you to see the most important information at a glance. Remember, the key to an effective dashboard is constant refinement and alignment with your project goals. These setups and configurations may take some effort initially, but they will save you time and headaches in the long run.

If you run into any problems or need further customization, the Jira community and support forums can be excellent sources for advice and solutions. Happy configuring, and good luck with all your endeavors in Jira!

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