What is the best way to transition from an old to new Jira project environment?

Question

We've been using Jira for years.

Our current feature request backlog has almost 1,000 items in it now :(

On a side note, we're also considering trying out Jira Product Discovery, so we can better track our backlogged feature requests.

What is the best way forward?

Should we create a new project in Jira and start fresh?

But, in that case - what happens if we have a new user request for the same item we have on our old backlog (but not in our new project environment)? Do we apply a vote to it, and then just keep pulling from these old tickets into our new project environment over time?

OR, should we spend the time upfront, and go through the 1,000 tickets over the next few months, and tag the majority of them as super long-term, so they are off our active backlog via a filter of some sort? In this case, we (don't) start a new project.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

Riley Venable · Accepted Answer

There are a couple of options that you can consider. One option is to create a new project and start with a fresh backlog. However, this might result in duplicating items that are already in your old backlog. A better option might be to prioritize the backlog and tag long-term items as such so that they can be filtered out of the active backlog. This approach could save you time in the long run and help you to focus on the most important items. Additionally, you might want to consider using Jira Product Discovery to help you better track your backlog and prioritize items. Ultimately, the best approach will depend on your specific needs and goals.