Visually show dependencies of stores in an epic

[Alex Hoogendoorn]

Hi,

I'm looking for a way to visually show the dependencies of the issues in an epic. I'd like to see quickly which stories depend on each other, so I can get a good view of what needs to be worked on next and where potential bottlenecks are.

Thanks,

Alex

[Francis Batilo · Accepted solution]

@Alex Hoogendoorn

Is there a particular format that you're aiming for to visualise your requirement? If not, then the improved Timeline on each Software project should provide you with the right level of detail. You'll just have to enable child level scheduling and you're all set (see screenshots below).

However, if you need a more granular detail that encompasses more than one project, you might need to get a marketplace app as Advance Roadmaps for Jira isn't inherently available for the standard version of Jira.

[Alex Hoogendoorn]

Thanks @Francis Batilo,

It looks like this would do what I'm looking for.

However, I think we need to have a Jira Product Discovery license for this. At the moment we don't have this licence, unfortunately. I don't see where I can go to the timeline.

Cheers,
Alex

[Francis Batilo]

@Alex Hoogendoorn

You won't need Jira Product Discovery for this feature. However, it is only available on specific type of boards (Kanban, Scrum). Plus, it will need to be enabled by your administrator globally, I'll let you know how to tell what you need to do next.

First, check the instructions on this link: Enable and disable the timeline | Jira Software Cloud | Atlassian Support.

Depending on how you go you'll either be stuck in either of these scenarios:

1. You can't go to board settings.

- If you can't do this one then you'll either need to get in touch with the project administrator (This could be your team lead or scrum master or whoever; if all else fails, go to scenario 2) or the board administrator (the one who created the board or had been made a board admin by your project admin - there is a highly probability that these roles are performed by the same person)

2. You can go to board settings, but the option is not there.

- This is a classic example of not having the timeline enabled globally. To resolve this, you'll need your Jira Administrator to enable the feature for you.

* If this feature is enabled but you are not the board admin, the Jira administrator can direct you to who to talk to next to enable timelines for you.

I hope this works for you and let me know how you go.

[Francis Batilo]

@Alex Hoogendoorn ,

You don't need to have license for Jira Product Discovery for this feature. If it isn't inherently available on your boards, there are a few things that we can consider to diagnose why that is.

Firstly, have a look at this Enable and disable the timeline | Jira Software Cloud | Atlassian Support.

1. If you're able to follow that through and enable the feature Timeline, good. That should enable you to visualise the data that you require.

2. If you're unable to see the Board settings, then you might not be a board admin and you'll have to ask them to enable it for you (usually, the board admin and the project admin is the same person)

3. If the board admin/Project Admin went through the steps and is unable to find Timeline, then that simply means that your Jira Administrator has not enabled this feature globally. You'll have to ask them to turn it on and then you can enable the feature accordingly.

I hope this helps and let me know how you go.

Cheers,

Francis

[Alex Hoogendoorn]

Hi @Francis Batilo,

Thank you for your help. I was able to enable the timeline view now. Unfortunately the stories in the epic are not mapped in the view - I can see them on the lift. I assume this is due to us not using start/end dates on the stories and we don't intent to start doing this. The best we could do is use the story points on our stories combined with the spring velocity. 

I am more after showing the dependencies between stories (e.g C depends on A and B), but without start and end dates.

I have learned now about the timeline, but it seem to not apply to our situation.

Cheers,

Alex

[Francis Batilo]

@Alex Hoogendoorn

Thanks for your response. Yes, your assumptions are correct with the usage of dates on your timelines to visualise your dependency.

I understand your requirement of not wanting to use the start dates and end dates. I wish I could suggest you use the dependency report capability, but that is only available if you have the Advance Roadmaps feature in Jira (free for premium and above subscription). That won't require you add dates whatsoever to visualise dependency (View all of an issue’s dependencies on your timeline | Jira Software Cloud | Atlassian Support)

Unfortunately, to achieve your requirement you might need a marketplace app as that feature is not included in the standard version of Jira.

I wish I could have helped more.

Cheers,

Francis

[RVS_Support]

Hi @Alex Hoogendoorn  

We have built an app for the same use case to visualize hierarchy based on issue links. If you are open for mktplace solution you can try it out

Issue Hierarchy Reports 

Disclaimer : I am part of the team which developed this app