projects organization in JIRA

[Dimitri]

Hi there, we are new to JIRA and trying to figure out how we should configure it. We have different stacks in our project, like iOS, Android, Backend, Web. Are these supposed to be setup as separate projects/boards in JIRA, or should stories across these stacks be managed under the same JIRA project / board?

If they have to be managed in separate boards, is it possible to have a unified view across all boards, to get a holistic view of how related issues progress? For example, can we include issues from multiple boards into the same sprint or Kanban, and track them in a holistic manner?

And how do we manage stories that are identical? For example, for the iOS and Android stacks the stories will be identical (whether they are in the same or separate boards), but different people will be working on them and there will be timing differences at some point (for example iOS is done, but Android overruns the sprint). Is there a story clone function, or do we have to create them manually twice?

Thanks!

[Dimitri]

We ended up splitting our Stack into JIRA "Components", which also seems to be the intended way to do it (although not very clear from the documentation). So we have a component for each of iOS, Droid, Backend, etc.

We also created swimlanes and organized them by component using JQL filters, i.e.:

component = iOS

Finally, when we create an issue, we assign it a component. Now all our issues are grouped by component on our boards and we can see and track them simultaneously. 

[Jason Lee]

Hi Dimitri,

We are having a similar dilemma on this.  Does this mean that you created two identical stories with different components (e.g. iOS / Android) or created one story with two components in it?  If the later, how did you manage the story separately in the scrum board?  Thanks in advance. 

[Moustafa Samir]

We are using the same approach as Dimitri suggested; but we are using different boards for each platform so we can measure progress and team velocity separately for each platform.

[Doug Swartz]

Yes. there is a story clone process. However, without an add-on the clone must happen within the same project.

As Joe's answer implies, it all depends on how you want to manage your work

One way would be to use separate stories in the same project for the Android and IOS work. (Create one and clone it for the other.) You could link them together if it's important. to track how they are progressing in parallel. Other thoughts:

• You could set a label or component on each story to the platform ID and create separate swim lanes on your board for each target platform using a label or component JQL query.  
• You could have an Epic for the Feature or overall story such as "Dropbox integration". then associate the individual platform stories to the epic.

[Joe Pitt]

You could use one story and use a subtask for each platform (iOS, Android, etc.) However, if the sprints are run by different teams on different schedules I'd run different projects.

[Dimitri]

Interesting. Under this approach, what happens if say the iOS subtask is complete, but the Android fails to complete and overruns the sprint? How is that displayed / tracked / managed in JIRA? Thanks!

[Joe Pitt]

If you think that could happen then I'd suggest different projects per platform.