This In-depth Tutorial on Jira Time Tracking Explains How To Use Jira Time Management Software. Learn To Configure Jira Time Tracking & Generate Useful Reports:
In this Perfect JIRA Learning Guide For All, we had a look at the most Frequently Asked Jira Interview Questions in our previous tutorial.
Get ready to see how time spent on tasks can be recorded. With time tracking, the estimation can be improved for similar issues and useful reports can be generated accordingly.
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We have covered two important topics here in this article i.e. Time Tracking provided by Jira and Time Tracking using other available, external plug-ins.
What You Will Learn: [hide]
How Does Jira Time Tracking Work?
This article explains the need and configuration of the Jira Time Tracking Software Tool in a step-by-step manner along with the screenshots for the tool for your easy understanding.
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Why Is Time Tracking Required?
- It helps in reaching realistic estimates.
- With the help of time tracking, tasks can be compared with similar ones completed in the past (historical data). This, in turn, will allow calculating more realistic deadlines.
- Most importantly, time tracking can be automated fully (using apps, etc.), and this allows the users to get on with their work without any interruption of manual input.
- Provides data of time spent on each issue and the project.
- Real-time reporting allows for better work allocation and assessment.
- Timesheets can be generated, and that in turn, can be used to generate customer invoices facilitating the payment process.
Recommended Tool
#1) Tempo Timesheets For JIRA
Tempo Timesheets is the #1 time management product in the Atlassian ecosystem since 2010. With Tempo Timesheets, you can build granular reports in seconds and drill down on data to get the detailed information you need.
Managers can review and approve their team’s timesheets, as well as analyze high-level information on work performed across your organization to make better business decisions. Convert calendar events to work logs for added value and productivity.
Features
- Multiple ways to track time.
- Google & Microsoft calendar integrations.
- Automated suggestions
- Measure & report on CAPEX and OPEX.
- Build custom reports
- Available in multiple languages.
- Available for all JIRA environments.
- Mobile app available
- Free 30-day trial
How To Configure Jira Time Tracking?
#1) Grant The Required Permissions
The first step is to grant the required permissions to the individual users of the project. This is usually done by the Jira project administrator.
The following steps must be used to check and apply for the required permissions:
- Click on the Jira software icon, to get different menu items (Refer to the below image).
- Click on ‘Jira settings’. (This will show up the menu under Jira settings).
- Click on ‘Issues’.
- Click on the ‘Permission schemes’ from the subsequent menu items displayed (One needs to scroll to the bottom of the page in the left pane).
- Besides the permission scheme, click on ‘Permissions’, that needs to be changed. (Say ‘Default Permission Scheme’ in the below image).
- Scroll down to the ‘Time tracking permissions’ section. Then, click on ‘Edit’ for the ‘Work On Issues’ category. (Refer to the below image)
- After clicking on edit, ‘Grant permission’ pop-up dialog will be displayed, as shown below (Clicking ‘Show more’ will display all the available ‘Granted to’ options, that can be selected).
- Select the desired ‘Granted to’ radio button (say, Group) and then choose the appropriate choice from the drop-down. Once satisfied with the selection, click on the ‘Grant’ button.
#2) Enabling/Disabling Time Tracking
(i) Time Tracking can be completely disabled or enabled by following the below-mentioned steps:
- Click the Jira software icon and then click on ‘Jira settings’.
- Click on ‘Issues’.
- From the subsequent menu items displayed, click on the ‘Time Tracking’ option in the ‘ISSUE FEATURES’ section. (Refer to the below image)
- To enable or disable, turn on or off ‘Enable time tracking’ toggle option. (Refer to the above image)
Note: By default, the Time Tracking option is ON.
Various Time Tracking Parameters And Their Configuration: (refer the images in the above sections)
- Click the Jira software icon and then click on ‘Jira settings’.
- Click on ‘Issues’.
- From the subsequent menu items displayed, click on the ‘Time Tracking’ option in the ‘ISSUE FEATURES’ section.
- Click ‘Edit global settings’. (Refer to the below image)
- Now the associated and the desired setting can be edited.
Note: Disable time tracking, before making any changes to the time tracking settings. (Refer to the ‘Enabling/Disabling Time tracking’ section to do this).
(ii) Once the desired changes are made to the time tracking settings, make sure that time tracking is enabled again.
The following fields of time tracking settings can be edited, by selecting new value/format, relevant to the respective field:
- Working hours per day: Number of hours in the user’s working day (E.g. 8, 7, etc.). This field can accept decimal values (E.g. 7.5)
- Working days per week: Number of days in the user’s working week (E.g. 5, 4, etc.)
- Time display format: Time displayed on an issue’s ‘time spent’ field will be in this format. The Following formats can be chosen from:
- Pretty (Example: 4 days, 4 hours, 30 minutes)
- Days (Example: 4d 4.5h)
- Hours (Example: 36.5h)
- Default unit: This time unit will be used by default for display if the user does not explicitly specify the time unit for any input.
- Copying of comments to work description: If this option is enabled, comments added on the issue will be copied to the Work description. Time logged by the user will only be visible to the members of the project role or group.
- If disabled, the user time log entries will be seen by everyone by default.
- Click ‘Save’ to confirm the settings.
Note: The user will be allowed to enter an Original estimate, while creating a new issue or editing an issue, only if, the Time Tracking field is added to the relevant screens associated with the actions.
#3) Third-Party Time Tracking Providers
Jira supports custom/third-party time tracking providers. These are available in Atlassian Marketplace. With these custom time tracking providers, more advanced time tracking functionality can be obtained.
Steps to change default time tracking provider:
- Search for a custom provider in the Atlassian Marketplace and install the same.
- Click the Jira software icon and then click on the ‘Jira settings’.
- Click on ‘Issues’.
- From the subsequent menu items displayed, click on the ‘Time Tracking’ option in the ‘ISSUE FEATURES’ section.
- Select the installed custom time tracking provider. (Refer to the below image)
Below mentioned are some of the time tracking providers/plug-in:
- Tempo Timesheets
- Pivot Gadget
- Work Time Calendar for Jira
Generate Time Tracking Report For A Specific Jira Report
To generate a near-perfect report, ensure that each issue is provided with an ‘Original estimate’ and the user adds the ‘Log Time’ religiously.
- Open the project for which the report is to be generated.
- Click on ‘Reports’ (menu available on the left side under the relevant project). (Refer to the above image)
- Scroll down to the ‘FORECAST & MANAGEMENT’ section.
- Click the ‘Time Tracking Report’ to configure, and that will display the first page as shown in the below image.
- Choose the appropriate options for the following fields, on the ‘Configure – Time Tracking Report’ page:
- Fix Version: Version on which the report is to be generated.
- Sorting: Based on this selection, the display order of the issues will be decided.
- Issues: Issues to be included in the report (E.g. ‘Incomplete issues’, ‘All’)
- Sub-task Inclusion: This option will decide which sub-tasks are to be included in the report (E.g. ‘sub-tasks with selected version’, ‘sub-tasks without a version set’ etc.)
- Click on ‘Next’. This will display the report as displayed in the below image.
- A report can be downloaded in the excel format by clicking on the ‘Excel View’ link available at the top right-hand corner of the report page.
Conclusion
This informative article on Jira Time Tracking shows how it makes life easier by providing accurate estimations. Managers can refer to historical data to set more realistic deadlines.
