How to add approval step in workflow in jira software

Ayush Pathak_m0tj6l

I need a step-by-step guide on adding an approval step in Jira Software for issues with high or highest priority. I'm using the Time to SLA app, which should only initiate after approval from the head department is accepted. Otherwise, the issue will be closed.

Jack Brickey

Hi @Ayush Pathak , 

I want to ensure you are talking about JSW here and not JSM. For the remainder of my response I will assume JSW. Also, I am unfamiliar with Time to SLA so I cannot instruct you in that regard but would assume that it must have some configuration that allows an SLA to start when entering a certain status which would work well with the below approval process. Finally, I am providing a guide for Company managed software projects. If you are using Team managed this will not apply.

 

the concept here is that you will modify the workflow to add approval process statuses: awaiting approval, approved, rejected, along with user transition restrictions from the "awaiting approval" to either of the approval results statuses.

1. Create a copy of your workflow and name it uniquely 
2. edit the workflow and a status named Awaiting Approval. Assuming every issue goes thru this approval unconditionally, then this status should be the initial status when it the issue is created. In that case relocate the create transition to this new status and delete the old status. For the other two statuses you can either use existing statuses or create new ones. For example for the Approval rejection you could use your done/closed status. If you do that I recommend adding a post function to the transition to set the Resolution field to "rejected" so that you will be able to assess stats on rejected issues. For the "approved" status you could use any status that would convey approval, e.g. to do, in progress, etc. of course you could add a new Approved status if desired. Note, this approved status would be used for starting your SLA.
3. Next you will need to associate your workflow to the desired issue type. However, you may wish to use a 'test' issue type to test the process before assigning the workflow to the actual issue type.

this should get you going.