How To Efficiently Prioritize Your Jira Backlog With Priority Score Sorting

Learn how to streamline your Jira backlog management by sorting it with Priority Score. Discover the step-by-step process and optimize your project workflow.

• This guide explains how to sort your Jira backlog by Priority Score using the Foxly Backlog Priority Scoring app.
• Sorting by rank is the default method in Jira, but it might not be efficient for large backlogs.
• To sort by Priority Score, create a saved JQL filter, set the project and order by priority score, then create a board based on this filter.
• You can customize your board to display the priority score on the cards for easy reference.

In the world of project management, Jira stands out as a powerful tool that offers various ways to organize your tasks and backlog. By default, Jira sorts its backlog and Kanban boards by rank, which allows for manual reordering through a simple drag-and-drop system. While this method works well for many situations, it can become cumbersome and time-consuming when dealing with substantial backlogs. In such cases, utilizing Priority Score sorting can significantly improve your workflow efficiency. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up Priority Score sorting in Jira, using the Foxly Backlog Priority Scoring app.

• Create a Saved JQL Filter To begin, you need to create a saved Jira Query Language (JQL) filter. Make sure to specify the relevant project and set the query to order by priority score. This filter will serve as the foundation for your new sorting method.

• Create a Board with Priority Score Sorting Return to your Jira project, and from the board options, select "Create Board." Choose the type of board that suits your needs, whether it's a Kanban board or another type. Opt for creating a new board based on an existing saved filter. Provide a name for your board and select the filter you created in the previous step. Finally, click to create your new board.

• View Your Sorted Kanban Board Once your board is created, you will notice a significant change - your Kanban board is now sorted by Priority Score. This provides a clear visual representation of task priority, helping you to focus on the most important items first.

• Customize Card Layout To make the sorting even more useful, consider adding the priority score to the cards themselves. This way, you don't have to click into each card to see its priority. Navigate to the board settings and find the card layout options. Here, you can choose which fields you want to display on your Kanban and Backlog boards.

By following these steps, you can streamline your Jira backlog management, making it easier to prioritize and tackle tasks efficiently. The Priority Score sorting method provides a clear and organized way to visualize task importance, which can be a game-changer when managing projects with extensive backlogs.

So, let's dive into the process in more detail

1. Create a Saved JQL Filter

• Log in to your Jira instance and navigate to the Issues page.
• Click on "Advanced issue search" to access the Jira Query Language (JQL) search bar.
• Set your JQL filter criteria by specifying the project and ordering the query by Priority Score. For example, you can use the following JQL query project = "Your Project Name" ORDER BY Priority Score.
• Once your filter criteria are set, click "Save as" and give your filter a meaningful name. This saved filter will be the basis for your new board.

2. Create a Board with Priority Score Sorting

• Go back to your Jira project's main page.
• From the board options dropdown, select "Create Board."
• Choose the type of board you prefer; for this guide, we'll use a Kanban board. Select "Kanban" as your board type.
• In the next step, choose the option to create a new board from an existing saved filter. This is where your saved JQL filter comes into play.
• Give your board a name that reflects its purpose, and then select the filter you just saved.
• Finally, click the "Create" button to generate your new board.

3. View Your Sorted Kanban Board

• Once the board is created, you will notice a change in how your tasks are displayed. Instead of the default rank-based sorting, your Kanban board will now be sorted by Priority Score. This allows you to instantly see which tasks have the highest priority and need your immediate attention.

4. Customize Card Layout

• To enhance the sorting method further, you can add the Priority Score field to the cards on your board. This provides at-a-glance information about the priority of each task without the need to open individual cards.
• Navigate to the board settings and find the "Card layout" options.
• In the Card layout settings, you can add the fields you want to see on your Kanban and Backlog boards.
• In this context, enabling the "Priority Score" field is crucial to display task priorities directly on the cards.

By following these steps, you can significantly improve your project management workflow in Jira. The Priority Score sorting method ensures that you always focus on the most critical tasks first, making your backlog more manageable and your project more successful. Give it a try, and experience the benefits of efficient backlog prioritization.

All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.