How to Create and Manage Sprint in Jira

Edited 1 week ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Jira is a popular tool used by development teams to manage projects efficiently. At the heart of many Agile projects is the idea of "sprints." Sprints are short, time-bound periods where a team aims to complete a certain amount of work. In this guide, we'll go into detail about how to effectively create and manage sprints in Jira. By understanding these processes, you can increase productivity and ensure successful project outcomes.

Understanding the basics

Before jumping into the step-by-step instructions, it's important to understand what a sprint is. In Agile methodologies, a sprint is a fixed time frame during which specific work has to be completed and prepared for review.

In a typical sprint, tasks are planned at the beginning, completed during the sprint, and reviewed at the end. Jira helps you manage sprints by allowing you to view work and progress through boards and backlogs. Let's learn how to create and manage these sprints using Jira.

Prerequisites for creating a sprint

To create a sprint in Jira, you need the necessary permissions in your Jira project. Specifically, the "Manage Sprints" permission must be granted to your user role. Without this, you will not be able to start a new sprint.

Next, make sure your project is set up on a Scrum board. There are two main board types in Jira: Scrum and Kanban. Sprints are included in the Scrum board. If your project is not yet a Scrum project, you will need to set it up.

A step-by-step guide to creating a sprint

1. Login to your Jira account

First, go to your Jira dashboard and log in using your credentials. Once logged in, proceed to your Jira project.

2. Access the backlog

On the left navigation panel, click on “Backlog”. Here all your project tasks and issues are listed and prioritized.

3. Click "Create Sprint"

Next, you'll see a "Create Sprint" button at the top or bottom of your backlog. Clicking this button generates a new Sprint section in your backlog view. Here, you can drag and drop tasks into the newly created sprint.

4. Add tasks to the sprint

Decide which tasks or backlog items you want to carry into your sprint. This decision should involve your team and be based on the sprint goals. To add a task, simply drag it from the backlog list to the sprint section.

5. Plan the sprint

Once you have added the task, click the "Start Sprint" button in the Sprint section. A dialog box will appear, asking for details:

• Sprint name: Name your sprint to reflect goals or dates, such as “Sprint 1: November 2023”.
• Duration: Sprints usually last from 1 to 4 weeks. Set the deadline accordingly.
• Start and end dates: Choose start and end dates, which often correspond to the team's schedule and capacity.

Once all the information has been input, confirm and start the sprint. Your sprint is now live, and the tasks within it can be actively worked on.

Managing sprints in JIRA

Once your sprint is set up and started, the next step is to manage the sprint efficiently. This is where Jira's tracking features come in handy. Below are steps to help you manage an active sprint.

1. Track progress

During the sprint, check the board regularly to monitor progress. Jira's visual representation of tasks lets you easily see which tasks are in progress, completed, or pending. Moving tasks between columns in the board reflects their status updates.

2. Use reports

Jira provides various reports that you can use to track sprint progress. For example:

• Burndown Chart: This chart shows the remaining work against time, and the progress towards completion of the total work of the sprint.
  Interpret the burndown chart to assess whether you are on track to complete the work within the sprint timeframe.
• Velocity chart: This displays the amount of work completed in the previous sprint, allowing you to predict future performance. To accurately forecast capacity, compare the sprint's planned work versus actual completions.

3. Daily Stand-up

Daily stand-ups are an essential part of managing sprints in Agile. These are brief meetings in which team members discuss:

• What did he achieve yesterday?
• What are they planning to do today?
• Any obstruction or problem that hinders progress.

These meetings help keep the team united and proactive in resolving potential problems.

4. Handling the changes

Sometimes, changes occur during an ongoing sprint. If the changes are small, adjust the tasks in the sprint. However, if extensive changes are needed, such as changing tasks, the team should meet to discuss the impacts and make adjustments accordingly. Remember, the sprint should aim to remain stable without making too many changes once it begins.

Completing the sprint

As the sprint deadline approaches, prepare to wrap up and review it. Jira facilitates this with several reflective practices:

1. Review completed tasks

Review all tasks marked as complete during the sprint. Verify that they meet the Definition of Done and are ready for next steps, such as deployment or stakeholder review.

2. Hold a sprint review meeting

Once all the work is complete, the Sprint Review meeting gives the team a chance to show the work completed to stakeholders. This is a great opportunity to demonstrate progress, get feedback, and make adjustments based on learnings.

3. Sprint Retrospective

After the sprint review, hold a retrospective meeting. This internal team meeting focuses on the following:

• What went well during the sprint?
• What could have been better than this?
• Implementable improvements for future sprints.

The team's openness to feedback and improvement drives continuous development and refinement processes. Act on the insights gained from the retrospective analysis in the upcoming sprint.

4. Close the sprint in JIRA

After these meetings, formally close the sprint in Jira. Click the "Complete Sprint" button on your Scrum board. This action will move unfinished tasks back to the backlog, where you can prioritize them for the upcoming sprint.

Advanced tips for sprint management

While the beginner's guide covers the essentials of creating and managing sprints in Jira, here are some advanced tips:

1. Estimation and story points

Use estimation methods such as story points to measure task complexity and effort. Discuss story point assignments with your team during planning sessions to ensure a shared understanding of workload expectations.

2. Managing dependencies

Identify and manage task dependencies to avoid bottlenecks. In Jira, link related issues to view dependencies and avoid delays in progress.

3. Automation rules

Jira allows the creation of automation rules to streamline repetitive tasks, increase efficiency, and reduce manual efforts. For example, automate task status changes upon task completion, ensuring up-to-date progress tracking.

4. Integrations and extensions

Explore Jira's compatibility with third-party extensions like Confluence to document discussions or Bitbucket to associate code changes directly with issues. The integration promotes collaboration and collects all relevant information in one place.

Conclusion

Creating and managing sprints in Jira is a process that enhances Agile project delivery efficiency. It involves careful planning, constant monitoring, and continuous improvement through retrospective analysis. By following a structured approach within Jira, teams can work cohesively, adapt to changes, and consistently excel in delivering successful projects. By leveraging Jira's flexible tool set to plan, execute, and review sprints, you can maximize productivity and meet your project objectives.

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