JIRA

JIRA

Top Interview Questions

About JIRA

 

JIRA: Overview, Features, and Applications

JIRA is a widely used tool developed by Atlassian that provides a comprehensive platform for issue tracking, project management, and agile software development. Originally released in 2002, JIRA was designed as a bug and issue tracker, but over time it evolved into a robust project management solution suitable for teams of all sizes. Today, JIRA is a cornerstone in the software development industry, especially for agile and DevOps environments, due to its flexibility, scalability, and integration capabilities.

1. What is JIRA?

JIRA is primarily a project management and issue tracking software that allows teams to plan, track, and manage their work. It is most commonly used in software development for managing tasks, bugs, user stories, and other issues, but its use has expanded across various domains, including IT service management, business project tracking, and process improvement.

The name “JIRA” is derived from “Gojira,” the Japanese word for Godzilla, symbolizing its power and flexibility in handling complex project management challenges.

JIRA provides a centralized platform where teams can:

  • Capture issues, tasks, and project requirements.

  • Plan sprints and releases.

  • Track progress and performance.

  • Collaborate effectively through shared workflows and dashboards.

2. Key Features of JIRA

JIRA is rich in features that make it suitable for both traditional and agile project management. Some of its core features include:

a. Issue and Project Tracking

At its core, JIRA is an issue tracking tool. Issues can be anything from bugs, tasks, feature requests, or service requests. Each issue in JIRA has attributes such as:

  • Title

  • Description

  • Priority

  • Status

  • Reporter and assignee

  • Comments and attachments

Teams can categorize issues using labels, components, and custom fields, making it easy to organize and track work.

b. Agile Project Management

JIRA supports agile methodologies such as Scrum and Kanban. Agile features in JIRA include:

  • Scrum Boards: Allow teams to manage and track work in sprints. Teams can plan sprint backlogs, estimate tasks using story points, and monitor sprint progress through burndown charts.

  • Kanban Boards: Facilitate visual task tracking using a continuous flow model. Teams can visualize work-in-progress, manage bottlenecks, and optimize throughput.

  • Backlog Management: Enables product owners to prioritize and manage the product backlog efficiently.

  • Reports and Analytics: JIRA provides various reports like velocity charts, cumulative flow diagrams, and sprint reports to analyze team performance.

c. Workflow Customization

One of JIRA’s strengths is its highly customizable workflows. Organizations can define custom workflows to match their business processes. A workflow represents the lifecycle of an issue from creation to completion. It can include multiple states (e.g., To Do, In Progress, Done) and transitions, along with rules and conditions to enforce business logic.

d. Dashboards and Reporting

JIRA offers real-time dashboards that provide an overview of project progress, workload, and critical issues. Users can create custom dashboards to display relevant metrics using gadgets such as:

  • Pie charts

  • Burndown charts

  • Activity streams

  • Sprint health gadgets

These dashboards help teams and stakeholders monitor progress, make data-driven decisions, and identify potential risks early.

e. Advanced Search with JQL (JIRA Query Language)

JIRA Query Language (JQL) is a powerful tool for filtering and searching issues based on specific criteria. Users can create complex queries such as finding all high-priority bugs assigned to a specific team member or issues that are overdue. JQL helps improve productivity by making issue tracking precise and efficient.

f. Integration Capabilities

JIRA seamlessly integrates with a wide range of tools commonly used in software development and business operations, such as:

  • Confluence (for documentation)

  • Bitbucket and GitHub (for code repositories)

  • Slack and Microsoft Teams (for communication)

  • Jenkins and Bamboo (for CI/CD pipelines)

These integrations allow teams to maintain a single source of truth and streamline the software development lifecycle.

3. Types of JIRA Products

Atlassian offers several JIRA products tailored for different use cases:

a. JIRA Software

Designed for software development teams, JIRA Software combines issue tracking with agile project management features such as Scrum and Kanban boards, agile reporting, and backlog management.

b. JIRA Service Management

Previously known as JIRA Service Desk, this product is tailored for IT service management (ITSM). It enables teams to manage incidents, service requests, and changes. It includes features like SLA tracking, automated workflows, customer portals, and knowledge base integration.

c. JIRA Core

JIRA Core is a simpler version of JIRA aimed at business teams, such as HR, finance, and marketing, who need to manage projects and workflows without the complexity of agile software development features.

4. Benefits of Using JIRA

a. Enhanced Collaboration

JIRA serves as a central hub where team members can communicate, share updates, and collaborate effectively. Commenting on issues, attaching documents, and tracking changes ensures everyone stays aligned.

b. Improved Transparency and Accountability

With JIRA, every task is visible, assigned, and tracked. Managers and team members can monitor task progress, deadlines, and priorities, which enhances accountability.

c. Flexibility and Customization

JIRA is highly configurable to meet specific organizational needs. Teams can customize workflows, fields, issue types, and screens, enabling them to adapt JIRA to their processes rather than forcing them to conform to rigid structures.

d. Data-Driven Insights

JIRA’s reporting and analytics capabilities provide valuable insights into project performance, team productivity, and bottlenecks. This helps in continuous improvement and informed decision-making.

e. Agile Adoption

For organizations adopting agile methodologies, JIRA provides built-in support for Scrum and Kanban, helping teams transition smoothly and embrace agile practices effectively.

5. Common Use Cases of JIRA

a. Software Development

JIRA is extensively used by software development teams to track bugs, plan sprints, and manage releases. It enables developers, testers, and product owners to collaborate efficiently and deliver high-quality software on time.

b. IT Service Management

JIRA Service Management helps IT teams manage incidents, service requests, and changes. It supports ITIL processes and provides visibility into service performance through dashboards and SLA tracking.

c. Project Management Across Business Functions

Beyond IT and software, JIRA Core is used by HR, finance, marketing, and operations teams to manage workflows, track tasks, and monitor progress, making it a versatile project management tool.

d. DevOps Integration

JIRA integrates with CI/CD pipelines, code repositories, and monitoring tools, making it an integral part of the DevOps lifecycle. Teams can link code changes to issues, track deployments, and ensure accountability.

6. Challenges and Considerations

Despite its many advantages, JIRA comes with some challenges:

  • Complexity for Beginners: JIRA’s vast customization options and features can overwhelm new users. Proper training is essential to use it effectively.

  • Performance Issues: Large instances with thousands of issues and users may experience slower performance.

  • Cost: While JIRA offers flexible pricing, enterprise-level deployments can become expensive depending on user count and add-ons.

  • Overhead in Configuration: Setting up workflows, permissions, and custom fields requires planning and effort.

7. Tips for Effective JIRA Usage

To get the most out of JIRA, teams should follow best practices such as:

  • Clearly define workflows and issue types to match team processes.

  • Regularly update issue status to maintain accurate tracking.

  • Use JQL to create targeted filters and dashboards for specific teams or projects.

  • Integrate JIRA with other tools to streamline development, communication, and reporting.

  • Conduct regular reviews of backlog, sprint progress, and team performance metrics.

8. JIRA in the Market

JIRA has become the industry standard for project and issue management in agile environments. Organizations of all sizes, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, rely on JIRA to streamline their software development, IT operations, and business projects. Its robust ecosystem of plugins, cloud-based services, and integration capabilities makes it highly adaptable to evolving business needs.

9. Future of JIRA

Atlassian continues to innovate with JIRA, expanding its cloud offerings, AI-assisted automation, and enhanced reporting features. With the growing emphasis on agile practices, DevOps, and digital transformation, JIRA is expected to remain a critical tool for teams seeking efficient collaboration, transparency, and data-driven project management.

Fresher Interview Questions

 

1. What is the difference between JIRA and Bugzilla?

Answer:

Feature JIRA Bugzilla
Usage Project management & issue tracking Mainly bug tracking
Agile Support Yes (Scrum/Kanban) No
Workflow Custom workflows Limited
Reporting Advanced reports & dashboards Basic reports
Integration Confluence, Bitbucket, Slack Limited

2. What are JIRA Components and Versions?

Answer:

  • Component: Subsection of a project used to organize issues (e.g., Frontend, Backend).

  • Version: Represents a release of the project. Issues can be assigned to a version to track fixes and features for that release.


3. What is a JIRA Board?

Answer:
A board visualizes issues in a project.

  • Scrum Board: Time-boxed sprints with planned work.

  • Kanban Board: Continuous flow without time-boxed sprints.

Key Features:

  • Columns represent issue statuses.

  • Drag-and-drop issues between columns to update status.

  • Useful for visual tracking of project progress.


4. What is the difference between “Assignee” and “Reporter”?

Answer:

  • Assignee: Person responsible for completing the issue.

  • Reporter: Person who created or reported the issue.


5. How can you search for issues in JIRA?

Answer:

  1. Basic Search: Uses a GUI to select project, status, assignee, etc.

  2. Advanced Search: Uses JIRA Query Language (JQL) for complex queries.

Example JQL Queries:

  • status = "Open" AND assignee = yash

  • project = "ABC" AND priority = High ORDER BY created DESC


6. What is a Resolution in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Resolution defines how an issue was resolved.

  • Common values: Fixed, Won’t Fix, Duplicate, Incomplete, Cannot Reproduce.

  • It is set when an issue is closed or resolved, not while it is in progress.


7. What are JIRA Filters and how do you save them?

Answer:

  • Filters are saved search queries to quickly access specific issues.

  • Steps to save a filter:

    1. Perform a search (basic or JQL).

    2. Click Save as.

    3. Name your filter and set sharing permissions.

Example:

  • “All high-priority issues assigned to me”

    • JQL: assignee = currentUser() AND priority = High


8. What is a JIRA Workflow Scheme?

Answer:

  • A workflow scheme associates workflows with issue types in a project.

  • Example: Bug issues follow “Bug Workflow,” Task issues follow “Task Workflow.”

  • This allows different issue types to have different workflows within the same project.


9. Explain JIRA Permission Scheme.

Answer:

  • A permission scheme defines what users can do in a project.

  • Can control actions like creating, editing, assigning, or resolving issues.

  • Example permissions:

    • Browse Projects: View issues

    • Assign Issues: Assign to users

    • Close Issues: Close completed issues


10. What is the difference between Issue Security Scheme and Permission Scheme?

Answer:

Aspect Permission Scheme Issue Security Scheme
Purpose Controls actions users can perform Controls which issues users can see
Example Edit, Create, Assign Only allow management team to view issue
Scope Project-wide Issue-specific

11. What are the different issue types in JIRA?

Answer:

  1. Epic – Large feature or work item

  2. Story – User requirement or functionality

  3. Task – Work to be done

  4. Bug – Defect or issue in the system

  5. Sub-task – Small unit of work under a story/task

  6. Improvement – Enhancements to existing functionality


12. What is a JIRA Epic Link?

Answer:

  • Epic Link connects stories or tasks to an epic.

  • Helps track the progress of an epic by viewing all associated issues.


13. What are the types of JIRA Projects?

Answer:

  1. Software Project – For software development (Scrum/Kanban)

  2. Business Project – For business teams (HR, marketing, finance)

  3. Service Desk Project – ITSM for managing tickets and requests


14. What is a Sprint Report?

Answer:

  • Shows the progress of a sprint.

  • Includes:

    • Completed vs. incomplete issues

    • Burndown chart for work remaining

    • Stories moved to different statuses


15. What is a Release in JIRA?

Answer:

  • A release (or version) groups issues for a project deployment.

  • Helps track which features or bug fixes are included in a particular release.


16. Difference between Open, In Progress, Resolved, and Closed?

Answer:

Status Meaning
Open Issue has been created but work hasn’t started
In Progress Work on the issue is ongoing
Resolved Issue has been fixed or completed
Closed Issue verified and closed

17. What is the difference between a Sub-task and a Linked Issue?

Answer:

  • Sub-task: Part of a parent issue; automatically inherits certain attributes.

  • Linked Issue: Separate issue that is related to another, without hierarchy. Example: “blocks,” “duplicates,” “relates to.”


18. How can you attach files and screenshots in JIRA?

Answer:

  • While creating or editing an issue, click Attach File or Drag and Drop files.

  • Can also paste screenshots in the description field.

  • Useful for reporting bugs with visual evidence.


19. What are JIRA Gadgets?

Answer:

  • Gadgets are visual components on dashboards.

  • Common gadgets:

    • Filter Results – Display issues from a saved filter

    • Pie Chart – Distribution of issues

    • Sprint Burndown – Progress of sprint

    • Two Dimensional Filter Statistics – Issues by assignee vs. status


20. What is the difference between “Fix Version” and “Affects Version”?

Answer:

Field Meaning
Affects Version Version of the product in which the issue exists
Fix Version Version in which the issue will be or has been fixed

21. What is the difference between JIRA Cloud and JIRA Server?

Answer:

Feature JIRA Cloud JIRA Server
Hosting Atlassian cloud On-premises
Updates Automatic updates Manual updates
Customization Limited customization Full customization
Access Web-based Web or local network

22. How do you link JIRA with Confluence?

Answer:

  • Confluence is a documentation tool.

  • Steps to link:

    1. Use Application Links in JIRA admin settings.

    2. Enter Confluence URL.

    3. Authenticate with OAuth.

  • Allows creating issues from Confluence and linking project documentation.


23. How can you clone an issue in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Click on More → Clone

  • Creates a copy of the issue with a new issue key.

  • Useful when a similar task or bug needs to be created without manually entering all details.


24. What is JIRA Agile?

Answer:

  • Formerly known as JIRA Agile, now integrated into JIRA Software.

  • Provides Scrum and Kanban boards, backlogs, sprints, and reports for Agile teams.


25. Explain JIRA Notifications.

Answer:

  • Notifications are emails or alerts sent when issues are updated.

  • Controlled via Notification Schemes.

  • Can notify:

    • Reporter

    • Assignee

    • Watchers

    • Project Role or Group


Absolutely! Let’s dive into an advanced and detailed set of JIRA interview questions and answers for freshers, including practical scenarios, tricky points, and more in-depth knowledge. This will cover 50+ questions in total so you’ll be well-prepared for interviews.


26. What are Issue Links in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Issue links define relationships between two separate issues.

  • Common link types:

    • Blocks / Is Blocked By – One issue prevents another from progressing.

    • Relates To – Issues are related but independent.

    • Duplicate / Is Duplicated By – One issue is a duplicate of another.

Use Case:
Helps in tracking dependencies between tasks, stories, or bugs.


27. What is a JIRA Sub-task and when should it be used?

Answer:

  • A sub-task is a smaller unit of work under a parent issue (task or story).

  • Used when an issue needs to be broken into multiple actionable steps.

  • Attributes like status, assignee, and description can be different from the parent.

Example:
Story: “Create Login Page”
Sub-tasks:

  • Design UI

  • Implement Backend

  • Write Test Cases


28. What are JIRA Workflows and Workflow Schemes?

Answer:

  • Workflow: Defines the lifecycle of an issue (statuses and transitions).

  • Workflow Scheme: Associates workflows with issue types in a project.

  • Example: Bug issues may follow a Bug Workflow, while Task issues follow a Task Workflow.


29. What are JIRA Permission Schemes?

Answer:

  • A permission scheme defines what users can do in a project.

  • Permissions include:

    • Browse Projects – View issues

    • Create Issues – Add new issues

    • Edit Issues – Modify issue details

    • Assign Issues – Assign issues to users

    • Close Issues – Mark issues as done


30. What is Issue Security in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Controls which users can view specific issues.

  • Security levels can be assigned to issues.

  • Example: Only management team can view high-priority issues while developers see normal issues.


31. How do you create a JIRA Workflow?

Answer:

  1. Go to JIRA Administration → Issues → Workflows

  2. Click Add Workflow

  3. Define Statuses (e.g., Open, In Progress, Done)

  4. Add Transitions between statuses

  5. Publish the workflow and associate it with a Workflow Scheme


32. What is a JIRA Board?

Answer:

  • A board visualizes issues in a project.

  • Types:

    • Scrum Board – Time-boxed sprints, planned work.

    • Kanban Board – Continuous work without time-boxing.

  • Boards allow drag-and-drop issue tracking.


33. What is JIRA Agile?

Answer:

  • JIRA Agile (now JIRA Software) provides Scrum and Kanban boards, sprints, and backlog management.

  • Features:

    • Sprint planning

    • Burndown charts

    • Velocity charts

    • Epic tracking


34. What are Epics in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Epics are large bodies of work broken into multiple stories or tasks.

  • Track progress by linking stories to epics using Epic Link.

  • Example: Epic “User Authentication” contains stories like “Login,” “Signup,” “Forgot Password.”


35. Difference between Story, Task, Bug, and Sub-task

Issue Type Description
Story User requirement or feature
Task A piece of work to be done
Bug Defect or problem in the system
Sub-task Smaller part of a parent issue

36. What is a Sprint in JIRA?

Answer:

  • A Sprint is a time-boxed iteration in Agile (usually 1–4 weeks).

  • Teams commit to a set of issues and track progress.

  • Sprint reports help in tracking:

    • Completed vs remaining tasks

    • Burndown chart

    • Velocity


37. How do you create a Sprint?

Answer:

  1. Go to Backlog → Create Sprint

  2. Add issues from backlog to sprint

  3. Click Start Sprint

  4. Set Sprint name, duration, and goal


38. What is a Burndown Chart in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Visualizes work completed vs work remaining in a sprint.

  • Helps monitor sprint progress and adjust workload.

  • Available under Reports → Burndown Chart.


39. What is a Velocity Chart?

Answer:

  • Displays story points completed in each sprint.

  • Helps predict future sprint capacity.


40. What is JIRA Query Language (JQL)?

Answer:

  • Powerful search tool in JIRA for filtering issues.

  • Example Queries:

    • assignee = currentUser() AND status = "In Progress"

    • project = ABC AND priority = High ORDER BY created DESC


41. Difference between Fix Version and Affects Version

Field Meaning
Affects Version Version in which the issue exists (bug found)
Fix Version Version in which the issue will be or is fixed

42. What are JIRA Filters?

Answer:

  • Saved searches to quickly view specific issues.

  • Can be shared with users or used in dashboards.

  • Example: “All high-priority bugs assigned to me”


43. What are JIRA Dashboards?

Answer:

  • Customizable overview of project data.

  • Include gadgets like pie charts, issue statistics, sprint burndown.

  • Helps teams track progress and performance.


44. How does JIRA integrate with Confluence?

Answer:

  • Use Application Links in JIRA admin.

  • Allows creating issues from Confluence pages and linking project documentation.

  • Useful for requirements tracking and documentation.


45. How do you clone or move an issue in JIRA?

  • Clone: Copies issue with new ID, keeps same summary, description, and attachments.

  • Move: Transfers issue to another project or issue type.

  • Available under More → Clone/Move.


46. What are JIRA Notifications?

Answer:

  • Email or in-app alerts for issue updates.

  • Controlled via Notification Schemes.

  • Notify: Reporter, Assignee, Watchers, Project Role, Group


47. What is an Issue Type Scheme?

Answer:

  • Associates issue types with projects.

  • Example: Software project → Bug, Task, Story, Epic.

  • Business project → Task, Improvement.


48. What is the difference between a Sub-task and Linked Issue?

Feature Sub-task Linked Issue
Relationship Parent-child Independent relation
Dependency Cannot exist without parent Exists independently
Status Flow Can be inherited from parent Separate

49. How do you attach screenshots or files in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Use Attach File while creating or editing an issue.

  • Drag-and-drop files or paste screenshots in description.

  • Useful for bug reporting.


50. Difference between Scrum and Kanban in JIRA

Feature Scrum Kanban
Iterations Time-boxed Sprints Continuous
Metrics Burndown, Velocity Cycle time, Flow
Planning Sprint Planning No formal planning
Best for Iterative projects Ongoing tasks

51. What is the difference between JIRA Cloud and JIRA Server?

Feature JIRA Cloud JIRA Server
Hosting Atlassian cloud On-premises
Updates Automatic updates Manual updates
Customization Limited customization Full customization
Access Web-based Web or local network

52. How can JIRA be used for IT Service Management (ITSM)?

Answer:

  • JIRA Service Management provides:

    • Incident Management

    • Service Requests

    • Problem Management

    • Change Management

  • Helps IT teams handle requests, incidents, and approvals efficiently.


53. What are JIRA Gadgets?

Answer:

  • Visual components on dashboards.

  • Examples: Pie Chart, Sprint Burndown, Two Dimensional Filter Statistics, Issue Statistics.


54. How do you manage permissions in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Permissions managed via Permission Schemes and Roles.

  • Example: Only developers can edit issues, testers can comment, admins manage workflow.


55. Best practices for using JIRA as a fresher:

  1. Regularly update issue statuses.

  2. Use clear descriptions and summaries.

  3. Keep comments informative.

  4. Learn to use filters, dashboards, and JQL.

  5. Understand Agile concepts like sprints, stories, and epics.

Experienced Interview Questions

 

1. What is JIRA and how is it used in software development?

Answer:

  • JIRA is a project management and issue tracking tool developed by Atlassian.

  • It is primarily used for bug tracking, issue tracking, and Agile project management.

  • Key uses for experienced professionals:

    • Managing complex workflows across multiple teams

    • Tracking epics, stories, tasks, and sub-tasks

    • Generating custom reports and dashboards

    • Integrating with Confluence, Bitbucket, and CI/CD pipelines


2. Explain the difference between JIRA Cloud and JIRA Server/Data Center.

Feature JIRA Cloud JIRA Server/Data Center
Hosting Atlassian Cloud On-premise
Updates Automatic Manual
Customization Limited Full customization
Access Web-based Web or local network
Scaling Scales automatically Scaling managed by organization

3. What is an Issue in JIRA and what are the types of issues?

Answer:

  • An issue is any work item in JIRA, such as a bug, task, story, or improvement.

  • Common issue types for experienced users:

    • Epic: Large body of work spanning multiple sprints

    • Story: Functional requirement

    • Task: Work item that is not necessarily a story

    • Bug: Defect in the system

    • Sub-task: Smaller unit of work under a parent issue

    • Improvement / New Feature: Enhancements to existing features


4. What is an Epic in JIRA and how do you manage it?

Answer:

  • An Epic is a large work item that can span multiple sprints.

  • Experienced users manage epics by:

    • Breaking them into stories/tasks/sub-tasks

    • Using Epic Link to associate child issues

    • Tracking progress using Epic Report and Roadmaps


5. Explain Workflows in JIRA. How do you customize them?

Answer:

  • Workflow: Represents the life cycle of an issue (statuses and transitions).

  • Experienced users can customize workflows to include:

    • Custom statuses (e.g., QA Review, UAT)

    • Transitions with conditions, validators, and post-functions

    • Automation to trigger notifications, field updates, or webhooks

Example Workflow:
Open → In Progress → Code Review → Testing → UAT → Closed


6. What is a Workflow Scheme and how is it different from a Workflow?

Answer:

  • Workflow Scheme: Associates different workflows to different issue types in a project.

  • Difference:

    • Workflow → Life cycle of a single issue type

    • Workflow Scheme → Mapping of workflows to multiple issue types


7. Explain Permission Scheme in JIRA.

Answer:

  • Defines what users can do in a project.

  • Common permissions for experienced users:

    • Browse Projects: View issues

    • Assign Issues: Assign issues to team members

    • Transition Issues: Move issues between statuses

    • Manage Sprints: Start/end sprints in Agile projects

    • Edit Issues: Modify issue fields


8. What is an Issue Security Scheme?

Answer:

  • Controls who can see specific issues.

  • Example: High-priority bugs may only be visible to QA leads and managers.

  • Security levels can be configured at the issue level.


9. What is JIRA Query Language (JQL)? Give examples.

Answer:

  • JQL is a powerful tool for searching issues based on criteria.

Examples for 4-year users:

  • Issues assigned to a user:

assignee = yash AND status = "In Progress"
  • Bugs with high priority in a project:

project = ABC AND issuetype = Bug AND priority = High ORDER BY created DESC
  • Issues in a specific sprint:

sprint = 25 AND status != Done

10. What are Filters in JIRA and how are they used?

Answer:

  • Filters are saved JQL queries.

  • Experienced users use filters to:

    • Generate dashboards and reports

    • Automate notifications

    • Track issues across multiple projects

  • Filters can be shared with teams or specific roles.


11. What are JIRA Dashboards and Gadgets?

Answer:

  • Dashboard: Custom view for tracking project metrics.

  • Gadgets: Visual components (charts, graphs, issue lists) on dashboards.

Common gadgets for experienced users:

  • Filter Results

  • Pie Chart (issues by status/assignee/priority)

  • Two-dimensional filter statistics

  • Sprint Burndown / Velocity Chart


12. How do you manage Sprints in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Experienced users manage Agile sprints by:

    1. Planning sprint backlog

    2. Using Scrum boards for issue tracking

    3. Monitoring progress with Burndown and Velocity charts

    4. Closing sprints and carrying over incomplete issues

Tips:

  • Assign story points for estimation

  • Track epics and dependencies


13. Explain the difference between Scrum and Kanban boards in JIRA.

Feature Scrum Board Kanban Board
Iterations Time-boxed sprints Continuous workflow
Planning Sprint Planning required No formal planning
Metrics Burndown, Velocity Cumulative Flow, Cycle Time
Best for Iterative projects Continuous delivery

14. What are Components in JIRA? How do you use them?

Answer:

  • Components divide a project into sub-sections (e.g., Frontend, Backend, API).

  • Experienced users use components to:

    • Assign issues to teams

    • Track issues per module

    • Filter and generate component-wise reports


15. What is a Version/Release in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Versions represent product releases.

  • Experienced users:

    • Assign issues to fix versions

    • Track release progress using Release Report

    • Mark versions as released after deployment


16. How do you link issues in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Issue linking establishes relationships between issues.

  • Types: Blocks, Is Blocked By, Relates To, Duplicate

  • Example scenario: A bug in login feature blocks the release of the authentication module.


17. Explain the Bug Life Cycle in JIRA.

Answer:

  • Typical advanced bug lifecycle:
    Open → Assigned → In Progress → Code Review → Testing → UAT → Resolved → Closed → Reopened (if needed)

  • Experienced users may include additional statuses like QA Review, UAT, Pending Approval.


18. How do you handle large projects with multiple teams in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Use Project Hierarchies: Project → Epics → Stories → Sub-tasks

  • Use Advanced Boards and Cross-project Filters

  • Assign Components and Versions for modular tracking

  • Set Permission and Notification Schemes for roles

  • Use Roadmaps and Reports for high-level tracking


19. What is a Permission Scheme vs. Security Scheme?

Feature Permission Scheme Security Scheme
Purpose What actions users can perform Who can see issues
Scope Project-wide Issue-specific
Example Assign, Edit, Close Only managers can view high-priority issues

20. How do you integrate JIRA with other tools?

Answer:

  • Experienced users integrate JIRA with:

    • Confluence – Documentation and knowledge base

    • Bitbucket/GitHub – Link commits, pull requests to issues

    • Slack/MS Teams – Notifications and alerts

    • Jenkins/CI/CD tools – Track builds and deployments

    • Test Management Tools – Zephyr, Xray


21. How do you generate advanced reports in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Built-in Reports: Burndown, Velocity, Cumulative Flow, Pie Charts

  • Custom Reports: Using JQL filters + gadgets

  • Export options: CSV, Excel, or integrate with BI tools

  • Use Cases: Track team velocity, component-wise issues, release readiness


22. How do you manage multiple workflows in a single project?

Answer:

  • Use Workflow Schemes to assign workflows to different issue types

  • Example:

    • Bug → Bug Workflow

    • Story → Story Workflow

    • Task → Task Workflow

  • Customize workflows with conditions, validators, and post-functions


23. How do you use JIRA for Release Management?

Answer:

  • Track issues by Fix Version

  • Monitor progress using Release Report

  • Mark version as released when all issues are completed

  • Generate release notes from issue summaries


24. What are some advanced JQL queries you use in real projects?

Examples:

  • All open bugs assigned to me in last 7 days:

assignee = currentUser() AND status = Open AND created >= -7d
  • Stories in Epic “Authentication” not done:

"Epic Link" = AUTH-123 AND status != Done
  • Issues in multiple projects with high priority:

project in (ABC, DEF) AND priority = High

25. Best practices for JIRA for experienced users

  1. Keep issue descriptions clear and actionable

  2. Use components, versions, and labels for tracking

  3. Regularly update statuses and resolutions

  4. Use dashboards and filters to monitor team performance

  5. Avoid over-complicating workflows

  6. Leverage automation rules to reduce manual updates

  7. Use advanced JQL queries for reports and tracking


26. What is a JIRA Project and how do you manage multiple projects?

Answer:

  • A JIRA project is a collection of issues that represents work for a team or product.

  • Experienced users manage multiple projects by:

    • Using Project Categories to group related projects

    • Standardizing Issue Types, Workflows, and Permission Schemes across projects

    • Creating cross-project filters and dashboards

    • Tracking high-level progress with Portfolio/Advanced Roadmaps


27. How do you handle issue dependencies in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Use Issue Links to define relationships:

    • Blocks / Is Blocked By – Shows dependency

    • Relates To – Logical connection

    • Duplicate / Is Duplicated By – Avoid redundant work

  • Use advanced JQL to filter dependent issues:

issue in linkedIssues("PROJ-123", "blocks")

28. How do you use JIRA for cross-team collaboration?

Answer:

  • Assign Components to different teams

  • Use labels to tag issues for team identification

  • Share dashboards and filters

  • Integrate JIRA with Slack/MS Teams for notifications

  • Track progress via epics, sprint reports, and portfolio roadmap


29. How do you manage custom fields in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Experienced users create custom fields for project-specific needs:

    • Text Field, Dropdown, Checkbox, Date Picker

  • Assign custom fields to screens and issue types

  • Avoid excessive fields to prevent clutter and slow performance

  • Use contexts to make fields visible for certain projects only


30. What are JIRA Screens and Screen Schemes?

Answer:

  • Screen: A collection of fields displayed during issue operations (Create, Edit, View)

  • Screen Scheme: Assigns screens to issue operations

  • Issue Type Screen Scheme: Assigns screen schemes to specific issue types

  • Example: Bug may have extra fields like Severity, Environment; Story may have Story Points


31. How do you handle issue transitions with conditions, validators, and post-functions?

Answer:

  • Condition: Controls who can see the transition

  • Validator: Checks criteria before allowing transition (e.g., mandatory fields)

  • Post-function: Automated action after transition (e.g., assign issue, update field, send email)

Example:

  • Transition “Resolve Bug” only allowed if QA approval field is filled

  • Automatically move issue to Testing after resolution


32. What is JIRA Automation and how do you use it?

Answer:

  • JIRA Automation allows automating repetitive tasks without scripting

  • Common automation rules for experienced users:

    • Auto-assign issues based on component or project

    • Send notifications on status change

    • Auto-update linked issues when parent issue is closed

  • Use Triggers, Conditions, and Actions to define automation

Example:

  • Trigger: Issue resolved

  • Condition: Issue type = Bug

  • Action: Notify QA team


33. How do you handle bulk operations in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Bulk operations allow modifying multiple issues at once:

    • Bulk Edit: Update fields for multiple issues

    • Bulk Move: Move multiple issues to another project or issue type

    • Bulk Transition: Change status of multiple issues

  • Important for large projects to maintain consistency


34. What are JIRA Boards for Advanced Users?

Answer:

  • Boards are visual representations of work:

    • Scrum Board: Track sprints, backlog, epics

    • Kanban Board: Track continuous workflow

  • Advanced users customize boards using:

    • Quick Filters for specific teams or components

    • Swimlanes for epics or assignees

    • Card colors based on priority or labels


35. How do you use JIRA Reports effectively?

Answer:

  • Advanced reporting includes:

    • Burndown and Velocity for sprint tracking

    • Cumulative Flow Diagram for Kanban efficiency

    • Epic and Version Reports to monitor progress

    • Custom Filter Reports using JQL and gadgets

  • Integrate with Confluence to share reports across teams


36. How do you use JIRA for Release Management?

Answer:

  • Assign issues to Fix Version

  • Track completion using Release Report

  • Generate release notes automatically

  • Manage multiple releases with Version Schemes


37. How do you handle notifications and watchers in large projects?

Answer:

  • Configure Notification Schemes per project

  • Assign watchers to critical issues for visibility

  • Avoid notification spamming by using role-based notifications

  • Integrate with email or Slack for automatic alerts


38. How do you manage Epics and Story mapping in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Create epics for large features

  • Break epics into stories or tasks

  • Track progress using:

    • Epic Report

    • Roadmaps (Advanced Roadmaps plugin)

    • Burndown by epic

  • Experienced users link stories to dependencies and versions


39. How do you integrate JIRA with Confluence?

Answer:

  • Use Application Links to connect JIRA and Confluence

  • Benefits for experienced users:

    • Create JIRA issues directly from Confluence pages

    • Link requirements to issues

    • Display reports and dashboards in Confluence pages


40. What is the difference between JIRA Service Management and JIRA Software?

Feature JIRA Software JIRA Service Management
Purpose Agile development tracking ITSM, support, and service requests
Issue Types Story, Task, Bug Incident, Service Request, Change
SLA Management Not available SLA tracking and reporting
Queues Not available Custom queues for requests

41. What are JIRA Portfolio and Advanced Roadmaps?

Answer:

  • Portfolio/Advanced Roadmaps allow cross-project planning

  • Features:

    • Visualize dependencies between projects

    • Plan releases and track progress

    • Resource and capacity planning

  • Used by managers to track high-level roadmap and delivery


42. How do you manage large backlogs efficiently?

Answer:

  • Use epics and labels to categorize issues

  • Prioritize using ranking and story points

  • Apply filters and quick filters to focus on critical items

  • Conduct regular backlog grooming


43. How do you handle custom workflows for different teams in one project?

Answer:

  • Use Workflow Schemes to assign workflows to issue types

  • Example:

    • Dev team → Workflow with code review and QA stages

    • QA team → Workflow focused on testing, defect verification

  • Use Conditions and Validators to ensure correct transition


44. What is a JIRA Sandbox and why is it used?

Answer:

  • Sandbox is a test environment for trying new configurations or workflows without affecting production

  • Experienced users test:

    • Custom workflows, screens, and automation rules

    • Plugin installations

    • Permission and notification changes


45. How do you manage multiple versions/releases in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Create fix versions for planned releases

  • Track issue progress by version

  • Generate release notes automatically

  • Move incomplete issues to the next release

  • Monitor using Version Report


46. How do you use Labels in JIRA for advanced tracking?

Answer:

  • Labels are flexible tags for categorization

  • Used for:

    • Cross-project tracking

    • Identifying quick filters

    • Grouping issues for reports

  • Avoid overusing to maintain consistency


47. How do you use JIRA for Agile Metrics?

Answer:

  • Track velocity, burndown, sprint reports

  • Track epic completion progress

  • Monitor cumulative flow for Kanban

  • Analyze bottlenecks using cycle time and lead time


48. How do you handle cross-project reporting in JIRA?

Answer:

  • Use JQL with multiple projects:

project in (PROJ1, PROJ2) AND status != Done
  • Create cross-project dashboards

  • Use Portfolio/Advanced Roadmaps for portfolio-level reporting


49. What are some best practices for JIRA for experienced users?

  1. Standardize issue types, workflows, and fields across projects

  2. Avoid excessive custom fields

  3. Use components and versions to organize work

  4. Maintain clean and clear dashboards

  5. Automate repetitive tasks using JIRA Automation

  6. Conduct regular backlog grooming and sprint planning

  7. Use JQL and filters for advanced tracking and reporting


50. What are common challenges in JIRA and how do you resolve them?

Answer:

  • Too many custom fields → slow performance → Use field contexts

  • Massive workflows → complexity → Simplify and use sub-workflows

  • Notification spam → overload → Role-based notifications

  • Cross-project visibility → limited → Use portfolio or cross-project filters