Feature issue type between Epic and Story

Question

Hi Team,

I am building a Jira Project for a software development team and they wanted an additional hierarchy as below,

Epic (A collection of feature which spans across multiple sprints and multiple releases)

--Feature (A collection of stories spans across multiple sprints but for each release)

-----Stories (A piece of development items completed within the sprint)

It make sense to me when they wanted an additional hierarchy that can be at the release level (I mean for each release). In our traditional way (Epic -> Stories) most of the time it will be multiple releases (maybe bi-weekly) because it takes months to complete all the stories under an epic and it's always been a nightmare to prepare the release cadance.

I looked for different options in Jira like,

1) Custom Hireracy using Advance Roadmap with this I can able create levels and map standard issue types above the Epic (like Initiatives and Themes) but I couldn't create one between Epic and Story.

2) I looked into the Structure add-on/plugin at the marketplace but it seems to be very costly and heavy.

How your team is managing the releases and the hierarchy apart from the regular fix-versions and grouping using release labels. Please share your thoughts and inputs, it will be very helpful.

Thanks in advance.

Thanks.

Rhys Diab _Rogue Wombat Software_ · Answer

Hi @devsuresh2005

If you're mainly looking to create an issue type called Feature between Epics and Stories, we created a plugin called Agile Docs which can help.

It lets you link your Feature to Epics and Stories in a parent-child relationship. It's relatively lightweight and the link will continue to exist even if you stop using the plugin so you don't risk losing your issue hierarchy.

Best Regards,

Rhys

Anna-BigPicture · Answer

Hi @devsuresh2005

Perhaps you would like to consider BigPicture - Atlassian addon that was inspired by the SAFe framework.

Please have a look at the article "SAFe with Jira & BigPicture" to find out in what other areas (not only in building Epic - Feature - Story hierarchy) the plugin can facilitate your work.

If you have further questions, just tag me!

Iryna Ihnatiuk · Answer

Hi @devsuresh2005 ,

You can meet your needs using SAFE Epic to Feature Translator app with Advanced Roadmaps.

1. SAFE Epic to Feature Translator helps you to change native Jira naming "epic" into "feature" (or whatever you want) everywhere in your Jira instance and saves native hierarchy: Feature (former Epic) → Story.

2. Create custom hireracy using Advance Roadmap. The only thing - you have to create a new issue type with some other name like "Portfolio Epic" or "Epic1" or anything else rather than exactly "Epic". Otherwise, there will be conflicts in Jira as it will consider them as duplicates.
Feel free to reach out support team if you need further information.