How to manage Customer Request approvals and SDLC

[Jason Grieve]

I work with a large distributed team.  I want to manage all customer requests from initial request through development and release.

I need to manage initial requests from customers through an approval process. I want to ensure:

• Business Unit approval (Conceptual and Functional),
• Requirements approval (Business Function and Usability)
• Design approval (IT Standards Compliance)

Once all approvals are received, we will use Agile (Scrum or Kanban) to move the work through the SDLC.

I am wondering:

• can this be done through a single project or should it be separated?
• I have heard that approvals and other work flow controls are no longer recommended withing Jira.  If this is the case, what is recommended best practice for enforcing approval processes?

I am also interested in any suggestions or comments anyone is willing to share.

[Dave Theodore [Coyote Creek Consulting]]

You can definitely do what you want. I'm not sure why someone would say this isn't recommended.  Jira Service Desk (JSD) has a built-in feature for Approvals, but it doesn't seem like that would make sense in your use case. It doesn't seem like this would require multiple Projects.

You can use some of the Workflow Conditions that come with JWME to make the Workflow button only show up for the person/people that need to approve. We've also used the arithmetic function of Jira Workflow Toolbox in cases where multiple approvers were required and needed to reach a consensus.  I think you will probably not be able to do what you're after with native non-JSD functionality, though.

[Inna Gordin]

Hi Jason, 

If you do end up using JMWE, this "Verify Approval in a Jira Workflow" how-to by Rachel Wright can help you set up the needed workflow: https://www.jirastrategy.com/apps/verify-approval-in-a-jira-workflow. You can also set up conditional approvals, when certain issues by-pass the approval and Rachel covers that as well. 

FYI, I work for Innovalog, the maker of JMWE... if any time you have any questions setting it up, feel free to reach out to our support team. 

Best of luck, 

Inna