JIRA Portfolio - Incorrect timeline for stories within an Initiative

[AMIT GULATI]

Here is the scenario

- I created an Initiative.

- Created two epics with Initiative

- Created two stories with one of the epic

- Assigned a release with a fixed release date (31-July-18)

- Gave story points to Initiative only

- Clicked 'Calculate'

- As a result, Timeline showed that initiative will be done by 10-July but stories within that will be completed by 31-July.

Is it not an incorrect representation? This indicates that there is no relationship between Initiative and Story.

[Shannon S]

Hi Amit,

Without story points, Portfolio is not able to estimate the work required and thus schedule the item in the plan.

Have a look here:

• Scheduling behavior
• Scheduling unestimated items

Therefore, it has moved it to the end by the release date as it would be completed by that date.

I hope that clarifies things. Let us know if you have any follow-up questions.

Regards,
Shannon

[AMIT GULATI]

Shannon,

i agree that without the story points, stories will be scheduled to last the release date but in this scenario where they are part of an initiative and that initiative is scheduled to end on 10 july, shouldnt that timeline be respected?

If not, what is difference between a unestimated story which is part of a scheduled initiative vs a unestimated story which is not part of any initiative?

[Shannon S]

Hi Amit,

So currently Portfolio works from the bottom-up with the estimations expected on the bottom of the hierarchy tree.

If this behavior isn't working for you then you can change the unestimated items scheduling option in the plan. Have a look at the following:

• Scheduling unestimated items - here you can actually turn the behavior off.
  
  

By choosing not to schedule unestimated items, Portfolio for Jira will ignore any unestimated items in your plan. These items will not have any impact on the schedule as well.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Shannon

[AMIT GULATI]

I  think your first line answers my question. 

In my view, estimated dates for Initiative or Epic should be derived from its child's dates..otherwise it caused confusion.