Is there a way to configure a business project with both a specific workflow and approvals?

[Elizabeth Lopez]

I want to create a business project that has a kanban board and works with approvals, while also being able to define a specific workflow with restrictions on where the work item can be moved to.

I have tried using a scrum board (team managed - software project) to define my workflow, but it does not have the approvals option.

I also tried having a kanban board (team managed - business project) to have approvals, but it does not have the option to define a specific workflow with restrictions.

Even tried creating a kanban board (company managed - business project) and it lets me define my workflow, but the approvals section disappeared again.

Is there a way to have all these 3 characteristics? (not a scrum project, having approvals, being able to define a workflow)

[John Funk · Accepted solution]

Hi Elizabeth - Welcome to the Atlassian Community!

Built-in Approvals are only available for Team-managed Business projects (and JSM projects of course). But as you have noticed, there are limitations for the workflow. 

Your best bet is to create a Jira Service Management project, where you can have what you want. And you can have a Free instance of JSM with up to 3 Agents. 

So, in that case I have a person or two who are designated as reviewing and approving the tickets submitted. If approved and additional work is needed, I then clone the ticket into a Jira software project with a link back to the JSM ticket. 

[Elizabeth Lopez]

Thank you very much!

I'm very new to Jira (and trying to implement it at my job) and I was quite confused. 

I also found how to manage both specific workflows and approvals in my team managed - business project, I just had to look a bit more into project settings > work types > select work type > edit workflow. Once in there I defined the path and restrictions for approvals!

[John Funk]

Great! Glad you found a path forward. Just realize that Team-managed projects are very limited in functionality as you continue to use the product. Best of luck!