The Short Answer: Sort of

Jira does have a form of approvals workflow, but it requires the use of automation rules to set up and manage the approval process. This means that while Jira provides the underlying functionality, it needs to be configured and customized to meet the specific needs of an approvals workflow, particularly in the context of change management.

How to Use Approvals Workflow in Jira (If Yes)

1. Navigate to the Issues section of your Jira project and select the issue type that requires approval.
2. Click on the “Automation” button in the top right corner to create a new automation rule.
3. Result: Configure the rule to trigger on the desired condition (e.g., when an issue is transitioned to a specific status), and set the action to send a notification or assign the issue to an approver, thereby initiating the approval workflow.

Workarounds (If No)

Since Jira’s native support for approvals workflow is limited without automation rules, you can:

1. Use an Integration: Connect to a tool like Microsoft Power Automate (formerly Microsoft Flow) to create custom approval workflows that integrate with Jira.
2. Use a 3rd Party Plugin: Install a plugin like ScriptRunner for Jira, which provides advanced automation capabilities, including custom approval workflows.
3. The “Hack”: Manually create a custom field for approval status and use Jira’s built-in commenting and notification features to manage the approval process, although this approach can be cumbersome and prone to errors.

Better Alternatives for Approvals Workflow

If Approvals Workflow is a dealbreaker for your workflow (Change Management), these tools have it built-in:

• Alternative 1: ServiceNow (Native support for complex approval workflows, particularly suited for change management processes)
• Alternative 2: BMC Helix ITSM (Better implementation of approval workflows with advanced automation and integration capabilities)

FAQ

Q: Is Approvals Workflow coming in the roadmap? A: According to Atlassian’s public roadmap, there are plans to enhance Jira’s workflow automation capabilities, but specific details about native approvals workflow are not provided.

Q: Is this feature gated to the Enterprise plan? A: The use of automation rules in Jira is available across various plans, including Standard and Premium, not just the Enterprise plan, making it accessible to a broader range of users. However, the complexity and scale of approval workflows that can be managed may vary depending on the plan’s limitations.

📚 Continue Learning

Check out our guides on Jira and Approvals Workflow.