Optional level in hierachy in Portfolio for JIRA

Frank Løvstad-Gebauer

Is it possible to have an optional level in Portfolio for JIRA.

We are looking at if Portfolio could support our implementation of SAFe 4.5.

Currently we have either a Portfolio Epic OR Program Epics. New levels in Portfolio for JIRA.

That means that Program Epics do not have parents.

And the children of Portfolio Epics are Features (JIRA Epics).

That also means that a Feature (JIRA Epic) can have a Portfolio Epic or a Program Epic as a parent

Jason Golden_tnx4bv

You cannot have an optional level in the hierarchy. If you try to view your plan at the Portfolio Epic level, you will either need to see the next level down as Program Epics or Features (JIRA Epics). If you try to view a plan that has the Portfolio Epic -> Program Epic -> Features in the global hierarchy at the Portfolio Epic level, but you happen to have no children Program Epics under it, all issues in that view will show in the "All issues without parent Portfolio Epic" section. Meaning, it'll look bad.

The way to properly address this is to create a dedicated JIRA project for your Program Epics, then have those sit side by side with Features (normal working team JIRA Epics), and have the Portfolio Epic be the parent of both. The dedicated project for Program Epics essentially becomes your product requirements, while working team Epics and Stories becomes the work to fulfill those requirements.

-Jason Golden
Denver AUG Leader