Hey everyone! I’m new to using JIRA for our Scrum projects and I’m running into a problem with time tracking. We’re using User Stories with subtasks, but the remaining time isn’t updating correctly.
Here’s what’s happening:
We create a User Story and estimate it (let’s say 1 week)
We break it down into subtasks
Team members log work on the subtasks
The User Story’s remaining time stays at 1 week!
It seems like JIRA isn’t counting the work logged on subtasks towards the User Story’s remaining time. We want the remaining time to be:
Remaining Time = Original Estimate - (Work logged on User Story + Work logged on all subtasks)
Is there a way to make JIRA do this automatically? Or maybe a workaround? It’s frustrating to see the burndown chart not reflecting our actual progress.
Any tips or tricks would be super helpful! Thanks in advance!
hey mate, been there done that. jira can be a pain sometimes. have u tried using the ‘remaining estimate’ field on subtasks? its a game changer. just make sure ur team updates it regularly. also check ur project settings - theres usually an option to roll up subtask estimates to the parent story. hope this helps!
I’ve encountered this issue before, and it can be frustrating. The key is to set up your JIRA configuration correctly. First, ensure that ‘Time Tracking’ is enabled for both stories and subtasks in your project settings. Then, configure the ‘Estimate Management’ to roll up subtask estimates to the parent issue. This setting is typically found under ‘Project Settings’ > ‘Issue Types’ > ‘Your Story Issue Type’ > ‘Field Configuration’.
Additionally, consider using the ‘Original Estimate’ field for your initial story estimate and the ‘Remaining Estimate’ field for ongoing updates. Team members should update the ‘Remaining Estimate’ on subtasks as work progresses. This approach, combined with proper configuration, should give you more accurate time tracking and burndown charts.
If these steps don’t resolve the issue, you might want to explore JIRA plugins specifically designed for enhanced Scrum time tracking. They can offer more granular control and automated updates based on subtask progress.
As someone who’s managed multiple Scrum projects in JIRA, I can relate to your frustration. One often-overlooked solution is to use the ‘Original Estimate’ and ‘Remaining Estimate’ fields on both the User Story and subtasks. Start by setting the ‘Original Estimate’ on the User Story. Then, when creating subtasks, distribute this estimate among them.
The key is to consistently update the ‘Remaining Estimate’ on subtasks as work progresses. JIRA should then automatically roll up these changes to the parent User Story. If it’s not happening, check your project’s ‘Estimation’ settings.
Another tip: consider using ‘Time Spent’ instead of ‘Work Logged’. In my experience, it often provides a more accurate reflection of effort, especially when team members forget to log work daily.
Lastly, if you’re still having issues, explore the JIRA marketplace for plugins that enhance Scrum time tracking. Some offer advanced algorithms for more precise remaining time calculations.