Getting started with Sparkr, so your teams can innovate together in Jira, requires a few mandatory steps to ensure the necessary building blocks are configured in your instance. Specifically, Sparkr requires the following elements in your Jira instance:
Element | Description |
|---|---|
Problem | An issue type that represents something you want to validate and potentially solve. |
Possibility | An issue type that represents something that may solve a validated problem. |
Solve Link | A Jira issue link type to associate (link) problems and possibilities together for tractability. |
Configuration Data | Editable properties that help categorise your Problems and Possibilities |
These are created for you through the “Get started” setup after installing Sparkr from the Atlassian Marketplace. If your teams are using traditional projects, then you’ll also need to manually create an issue type scheme and workflow, as Jira apps do not have access to these.
1. Install
Sparkr can be installed from the Atlassian Marketplace by your Administrator via the Universal Plugin Manager (UPM). To find and install Saprkr from the Marketplace:
Navigate to the Altassian Marketplace by either:
Using the side navigation bar in your Jira instance by choosing “Jira Settings” > “Apps” > “Find new apps”.
Directly navigating to the Atlassian Marketplace.
Find Sparkr by entering the string “Saprkr” in the “Filter apps” or “Search for apps” search box.
Click the Sparkr app listing to view the details.
Click the “Try app”, “Try it free” or “Subscribe now” buttons
A confirmation message and details will appear when Sparkr is installed successfully.
For more information on finding and installing (or requesting as a non-administrator) marketplace apps, see Atlassian’s Documentation.
2. Setup (“Get started”)
Once Sparkr is successfully installed an “Installed and ready to go!” dialogue window will be shown. In this window there will be the option to “Get started”, that will redirect you to Sparkr’s setup page.
You can also access Sparkr’s setup page from the app listing in your Jira instance (Jira settings > Apps > Manage apps > Sparkr > Get started).
Sparkr’s setup page will automatically configure the following mandatory elements:
“Problem” issue type
“Possibility” issue type
“Solve” issue link type
Configuration data
If you have previously installed Sparkr (or have issue types and link that are similarly named in your Jira instances, you will receive a purple information message that these elements already exists and are good to go!
For troubleshooting this step please see our knowledge base or contact us through our customer portal.
3. Create an issue type scheme
If you are using traditional Jira projects, then you will need to create an issue type scheme for projects that will use Sparkr.
To create an issue type scheme, either click the “Next” button from the Setup page or navigate directly to the “Issue type schemes” page from the Jira side menu “Jira settings” > “Issues” > “Issue type schemes”. On the issue type scheme page complete the following steps:
Click the “Add Issue Type Scheme” button in the top-right, to load the “Add Issue type scheme” page
Add a scheme name (e.g. “Sparkr Issue Type Scheme”)
Add a description (e.g. An issue type scheme for use with the Sparkr app)
Drag the following available issue types from the right under “available issue types” to the left “issue types for current scheme“:
Problem
Possibility
Task (optional)
Click save
An alternate approach would be to add the Problem and Possibility issue types to an existing scheme that is applied to projects you would like to use with Sparkr.
4. Create a workflow
If you are using traditional Jira projects, then it is recommended to create an innovation workflow that can be applied to projects that will use Sparkr. To create a workflow:
On the Jira side menu, click “Jira settings” > “Issues” > “Workflows”
Click “Add workflow”
Enter a relevant name (e.g. “Sparkr Innovation Workflow”)
Create a set of relevant states and transitions
Our recommended design-thinking innovation workflow for both Problems and Possibilities is as follows:
5. Create a Workflow Scheme
If you are using traditional Jira projects, then it is recommended to create an innovation workflow scheme that can be applied to projects that will use Sparkr. To create a workflow scheme:
On the Jira side menu, click “Jira settings” > “Issues” > “Workflows schemes”
Click “Add workflow scheme”
Provide a relevant name (e.g. “Sparkr Workflow Scheme”) and description
Add an existing workflow to the scheme (i.e. the “Sparkr Innovation Workflow” created in the previous section)
Assign Problem and Possibility issue types to the added workflow.
You can now assign the workflow scheme, workflow and issue type scheme to new projects that you would like to use with Sparkr.
Next-Gen Projects
Atlassian has recently introduced “Next-Gen” projects to Jira Cloud, and they have a number of unique characteristics. Namely, they have self-contained issue types and workflows.
See our guide on Next-Gen Projects for more information on how to configure them for use with Sparkr.