Is there a maximum number of Additional Programs I can add to an Epic card?

Jackie_miranda

 

Is there a maximum number of Additional Programs I can add to an Epic card?

Steve Sauser_65nkwi

@Jackie_miranda Thanks for the question!  

Technical limitations are going to be a little different than what kind of guidance we might provide.  

Technically I believe the limit is 999, then the UI begins to behave in odd methods and you will struggle with adding/removing, etc...

Our guidance would be more in the realm of assessing the size of a given Epic (especially if you are talking about Features (Jira Epics)).  

• Features should be completed inside 1 PI/QI which is typically from 6 to 7 Sprints.  A single Feature being worked on by 999 Programs is highly unlikely to be able to be completed in that time frame.  
  • Additionally, none of those Programs can actually work on their own work.  Think about how a Team works on Stories, these do not cross-cut multiple teams because then a Team could never accomplish Done.  They would always be waiting on other teams to complete the sprint.  
• Epics/Initiatives/Portfolio Epics should be completed typically within 12-18 months, anything longer is not really a Epic/Initiative/Portfolio Epic, it is likely many of these work items.  
  • If 999 Programs are working on the same Epic for 12-18 months the massive need of coordination is virtually impossible. 
  • Consider Dunbars Number (150 relationships a human can effectively manage). 
    • Team is 8-10 people 
    • Program is 10-20 Teams
    • Portfolio is 20 or so Programs
    • The 150 relationships has been well overcome long before having getting close to 999 Programs working on a single Epic.  

I hope this answers your question from both a technical and ways of working perspective.