What is JIRA Software and How to Use It

What is JIRA Software and How to Use It-feature image
November 29, 2023 Reviewed By : Varun Kalra .8 Min read

According to Kissflow, more than 77% of the employees prefer to work from home and feel more productive while working remotely. As such, the need for robust project management software is on the rise. So, people are constantly searching for better project management software, and one tool that comes to our mind is JIRA.

With JIRA project management software, you can build a team easily and keep your projects on track as well. It tracks issues from their initial stage till the final closure. It is one of the best project management tools out there in this regard. In this blog, I will talk about JIRA software and how to use it properly. Learn the ins and outs of JIRA Software and optimize your project management process with this guide.

What is JIRA Software?

What is JIRA Software and How to Use It

Atlassian JIRA is a project management and issue tracking software that helps you to plan, manage and track your projects. Particularly, JIRA is used for task management, so that users can save time and resources.

JIRA is also a bug tracking tool that allows developers to implement new features in any app and fix bugs in future releases. Moreover, it also integrates well with a wide range of different tools like Confluence, Google Drive, Slack and more to make it easier for users to get work done effectively and efficiently.

Features of JIRA Project Management Software

Features of JIRA Software dashboard

JIRA Software is developed by Atlassian, and it is widely used by software development teams and various industries. This software offers features like issue tracking, automation, reporting, roadmaps and much more. Here are some key features of JIRA Software:

  • Issue Tracking: A centralized system for tracking and managing tasks, bugs, and other issues.
  • Agile Project Management: Support for popular agile methodologies such as Scrum and Kanban.
  • Real-time Collaboration: Seamless collaboration through comments and mentions in issues.
  • Dashboards: Personalized dashboards for users and teams which provide a detailed view of project information.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Built-in reports for tracking project progress, team performance, and issue resolution.
  • Roadmaps: Visualize and plan your projects with roadmaps.
  • Integration Capabilities: Integration with a wide range of third-party tools and services.
  • Automation: Automation features to streamline repetitive tasks and workflows.

Suggested Read: Best Free Alternatives to Jira for Task Management

JIRA Cloud vs JIRA On-Premises

Jira offers two types of deployments: Cloud and On-premises. While Jira Cloud offers great flexibility, seamless collaboration, and automatic updates, Jira Server (On-premises) provides a robust infrastructure, and better performance. Here’s a comparison chart for a better view:

FeatureJira CloudJira Server
HostingHosted by AtlassianHosted on your own servers
Updates and maintenanceAutomatic updatesManual updates and maintenance
CustomizationLimited customization optionsFull control over your customization
PerformanceBased on server locationDepends on your own server
AccessibilityAccessible from anywhereOnly accessible within organization
SecurityAtlassian manages security for the cloud serviceSecurity managed by your organization
BackupsAutomatic backupsManual backups
CostSubscription and user basedOne-time license fee plus ongoing maintenance costs

Furthermore, both the deployment types have their own benefits, depending on your requirements. But which one should you pick? Here’s some tips to make the right choice between these two JIRA deployment types:

On-Premises or JIRA Server

JIRA Cloud

How to Use JIRA Software?

How to Use JIRA Software

Now that we have learned what JIRA is, its features, uses and deployment types, it’s time to take a look at how you can use the JIRA tool for your project management. Below are the steps to use JIRA:

Step 1: Pick a Template and Create a Project

The first step is to log in to your JIRA account and choose the type of template to create a project. Go to the top navigation bar and select “Projects” then click on “Create a new Project” from the dropdown menu.

Now, you must select a template. JIRA offers multiple templates for managing and tracking your tasks, such as, Scrum, Bug Tracking, and Kanban.

  • Scrum: This template is for agile teams who want to work on a backlog. They can estimate and plan their work in sprints to deliver their tasks on time as scheduled.
  • Bug Tracking: Bug tracking is for the development teams that want to manage their task in a list view, not the regular board ones.
  • Kanban: Kanban is basically used by teams to monitor their work in flow, rather than sprints. With this template, they can focus on managing work in progress.

There are many other templates like Project Management, ITSM, Marketing Management, DevOps, New-employee onboarding and more. You can select the template that best suits your requirements.

Step 2: Setup Columns

A column in JIRA represents the status of an issue, and each column displays the steps of your workflow until completion. There are two ways to create a column, here is how:

When you are working on team-managed projects:

  • Go to the template board
  • Click on the three dots (•••) in the top right corner and click on the Configure board.
  • Here you can add a new column, delete a column, move a column or change the name of a column accordingly.

When you are working on company-managed projects:

  • Go to the template board
  • Click on the three dots (•••) in the top right corner and click on the Board settings.
  • Here you can add a new column, delete a column, move a column or change the name of a column accordingly.

Step 3: Create an Issue

Issues in JIRA are used to track and check the individual work that is to be completed. An issue can be a bug, a feature to add, a story to share, any changes or addition or any other task related to your project.

To create an issue, select “Create” in the top right navigation on your board. Your issue will be created on the board or the backlog of the project.

Step 4: Integrate Your Tools

You can integrate or add more than 3000 tools to manage your workflow. To do so,

  • Go to the top navigation and click on Cog, and then select Apps
  • Search for the app you want to add
  • Follow the guidelines and install it. In some cases, you might have to purchase the App

Step 5: Invite Other Members

Once you have successfully created a project, you can invite other team members into your workflow. To add the members, follow the steps below:

  • Go to the Project settings from your project’s sidebar and click on Access
  • Click on Add people
  • Type a name, group or mail ID to invite other people
  • Assign the roles to the team members from the Role dropdown option
  • Click on Add, and you are done.

Step 6: Monitor and Track Your Work

Now that you have invited other members to your project, it’s time to track and manage your project’s workflow. You can move Issues from one column to another according to the work progress like To-do, Work in progress or completed.

How Much Does JIRA Project Management Software Cost?

The cost of JIRA project management software depends on various factors like the type of deployment, billing cycle, number of users and more. The JIRA pricing consists of four types of plans: Free, Standard, Premium, and Enterprise plan. The standard plan starts at $8.15 a month per user. Details of the plan are below:

JIRA Cloud Pricing

JIRA cloud offers four types of pricing plans dashboard

JIRA cloud offers four types of pricing plans. These are:

  • Free Plan: Forever for up to 10 users
  • Standard Plan: Starts at $8.15 per user per month
  • Premium Plan: Starts at $16 per user per month
  • Enterprise Plan: Available on request

JIRA Server Pricing

JIRA Server is basically for large enterprises with 500 or more users. You can select the number of users and buy it accordingly. The plan starts at $42,000 per 500 users and it also offers a 30-days free trial.

JIRA Server Pricing

Conclusion

In the end, JIRA Software is definitely your ultimate ally for project management. Its versatile features empower teams to collaborate seamlessly, track progress effortlessly, and deliver exceptional results. Now that you know how to use JIRA, you’re ready to enhance your project management journey effectively.

  1. Is Jira project management tool?

    Yes, Jira is a robust project management and issue tracking tool, which is developed by Atlassian.

  2. Does Jira software include Jira work management?

    Yes, Jira software includes work management capabilities that allow users to track tasks, manage issues, and collaborate on projects efficiently.

  3. How to use Jira software for project management?

    To use Jira for project management, create a project, choose a template, set up columns, create issues, integrate tools, invite your team, and monitor progress by moving tasks through workflow columns.

  4. Why use Jira for project management?

    Jira offers versatile features for issue tracking, agile project management, real-time collaboration, dashboards, and integration. This enhances team collaboration and project efficiency.

  5. What is project management software used for?

    Project management software, like Jira, is used to plan, organize, and track multiple tasks and projects. It helps teams collaborate, manage workflows, and ensure timely completion of project goals.

  6. Which project management software is best?

    Jira is considered one of the best project management tools due to its comprehensive features, flexibility, and integration capabilities. However, the choice depends on specific project needs and preferences.

  7. Why is project management software important?

    Project management software is crucial for effective planning, organization, and collaboration. It streamlines workflows, enhances communication, and ensures projects are completed within deadlines.

Written by Shubham Roy

Shubham Roy is an experienced writer with a strong Technical and Business background. With over three years of experience as a content writer, he has honed his skills in various domains, including technical writing, business, software, Travel, Food and finance. His passion for creating engaging and informative content... Read more

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