In the two decades since Atlassian launched Jira (then known as Jira Software), the way we work has changed significantly.
From an increase in remote and hybrid working across global teams to the continually evolving role of AI (Artificial Intelligence), it’s more important than ever for teams to be connected through integrated tools, shared goals and centralised information.
Against this shifting landscape, Atlassian has responded with a new approach to teamwork and how we structure our tooling: Enter the Atlassian System of Work.
What is the Atlassian System of Work?
The System of Work is a new philosophy developed by Atlassian. At its heart is the relationship between technology and the business teams who use it, and how connection and integration can maximise impact and value.
This focus on ‘business teams’ is important, as the evolution of technology and the impact of AI will be signifiant for all teams across an enterprise, not just those in the tech space.
In Atlassian’s own words: ‘[The System of Work will] transform siloed companies into connected ones.’
Why has Atlassian developed a deliberate System of Work?
It’s not uncommon for teams across large organisations to use a disparate mix of platforms – and this can lead to a whole host of pain points:
Information in silos, and often inaccessible to people within a certain business area.
Tools used for duplicate use cases, with myriad user accounts, integrations and unnecessary plugins.
Teams’ collaboration stymied by different timezones or working patterns.
The Atlassian System of Work addresses these challenges head on, as it centres on the importance of having a clearly defined structure of solutions to unite teams, tools and data.
The tools within this system (i.e. Atlassian’s product portfolio) enable teams to share knowledge, collaborate in real-time and work towards common goals, more efficiently and effectively.
Ultimately, the Atlassian System of Work has been designed to unlock team’s potential in a way that anticipates the needs of tomorrow’s teams.
💡 Spotlight on Jira
At Team ‘24 in Las Vegas, Atlassian announced ‘a next era for Jira’, whereby some features of Jira Work Management were rolled into Jira Software to create an expansive project management tool, complete with templates for all business teams.
Now known solely as Jira, Atlassian’s flagship product still provides the Agile work management capabilities that software development teams have always traditionally used. With the additional Jira Work Management features now on top, all teams across an organisation can benefit from the tool.
This consolidation and streamlining of tools reflects Atlassian’s new approach. All teams in one place, each with their own unique processes and needs, but all able to use one core product, access centralised data and view those overarching shared goals.
If you’re thinking of implementing Jira, need support with your Agile project management, or would simply benefit from some Jira training, we’ve got you covered. As Atlassian Platinum Solution Partners, we’re ideally placed to guide you through Atlassian’s system of work and secure long term success for your teams.
Bringing teams together - The foundations behind Atlassian’s Teamwork
Speaking recently in a Team ’24 recap webinar, Carina Zweygart, Senior Pre-Sales Solutions Engineer at Atlassian, outlined three key principles underpinning the System of Work. For teams to be successful, she explained, the following need to be in place:
Work must be aligned to goals
Teams need to continually track the progress of those goals
Knowledge should to be accessible and widely shared
The Atlassian System of Work has been designed to enable these three foundations. We’ll look at each now in a little more depth.
Work aligned to goals
Unless teams understand the wider impact of their work, and can directly link it to overarching aims, tasks can quickly feel meaningless and detached from a shared goal.
In light of this, goals have now been added to all core products within Atlassian’s solution portfolio. You can track goals in Jira (a new enhancement which was introduced at Team ‘24), and they’re also visible in products from Confluence to Jira Product Discovery, and at every collaboration level.
Continually tracking goals
Atlassian Home can also support with a shared sense of accountability and greater visibility of goals.
Soon to be enabled across the Cloud product suite (our understanding is that Home will be available in the Admin Hub for customers who join the Early Access Programme), Home provides every user with a personalised view of their goals. If certain goals are not on track, Home can provide insights into why work may have been held up and identify potential blockers.
With Home, it appears that anyone, at any time, can access a goal to view its progress. This contributes to the democratising of knowledge and shared outcomes that Atlassian has been championing throughout the System of Work, ensuring people across all teams and projects benefit from visibility, accountability and collaboration.
Building and harnessing knowledge
Rovo, a new addition to the Atlassian system of work, is the answer to centralised enterprise knowledge.
Powered by Atlassian Intelligence and your organisation’s own unique teamwork graph, Rovo parses for information held in multiple tools and datasets across your organisation, bringing together valuable insights in one place – and with results tailored to the user’s unique context and search requirements.
💡 Spotlight on your teamwork graph
Many of us were first introduced to the teamwork graph when Atlassian first launched Atlassian Intelligence.
Put simply, each organisation using the Atlassian product suite, will have its own teamwork graph, which evolves over time to reflect the changing state of your teams, the way you work and the tools you use.
The teamwork graph is it important, because it powers a number of Atlassian Intelligence capabilities. Rovo, for example, draws on your unique organisation’s teamwork graph to ensure it returns search results, or answers chat queries, with valuable context. With the teamwork graph, Rovo and other AI tools can understand the connection between your teams, goals, tasks and projects, which in turn enables them to deliver more meaning and value.
Rovo Agents, meanwhile, act as virtual teammates – answering questions, summarising swathes of technical intel, and even creating new content. If you’ve got a particular pain point you need addressing, or process you need automating, there’ll be a Rovo Agent that can fulfil it – whether out of the box, or a custom one.
As announced at Team ’24 Europe, Rovo is now in General Availability!
Are you ready to embrace Atlassian Intelligence and Rovo? Do you feel confident in your processes and tooling? If the answer is no, it could be time to seek support from a dedicated Atlassian Platinum Solution Partner. With over two decades helping global organisations unlock value from their tooling, and guiding them to success, you’re in safe hands.
Atlassian system of work: What does it mean for you?
Ostensibly, if you’re using any Atlassian solution, you won’t experience a difference in your day-to-day usage. However, Atlassian’s System of Work philosophy will inform how it continues to innovate and develop its offering.
We expect to see a continued focus on uniting tools, teams and processes into a more cohesive system, transcending time zones and geography.
”It’s not just about the tools but aligning the technology, people, and practices to maximise impact.” - Tiffany To, SVP of Enterprise and Platform at Atlassian
This may take the form of increasingly sophisticated integrations, or we may see further tool consolidations (like JWM and Jira Software). This is speculation on our part, but given the sheer volume of tools the average team uses daily, moves to streamline organisations’ techstacks would not be unexpected.
Unsurprisingly, we also anticipate ongoing advancements in AI – in this context, Atlassian Intelligence. Beyond the practical capabilities that AI delivered, we’d advise tech vendors and organisations alike to truly focus on how to embed AI sustainably into teams, and to ensure people are working with the tools to unlock greater human productivity and value.
This will go beyond the technology itself, and instead be more of a culture piece. We hope to see a real shift in the perception of AI – not as a threat to human jobs, but instead as another tool to unlock further potential and increase efficiencies. Both senior leaders and tech vendors themselves will play a role in this education and communication.
The Atlassian techstack is no stranger to change
Atlassian’s product suite has charted these changes over the years, responding to the needs of organisations and their teams, users and customers.
We’ve seen the evolution of Jira from a bug-tracking tool to a full-service Agile project management solution, witnessed the journey from Jira Service Desk to Jira Service Management, an elevated ITSM tool, and watched as Atlassian Intelligence continues to grow in scope and sophistication.
Now, we’re eagerly awaiting the next innovation from the Atlassian team.
Are you ready for change?
Teamwork is continually shifting – so technology and working practices naturally adapt too. The question is: Are you in a position to embrace those changes?
As an Atlassian Platinum Solution Partner, we’re ideally placed to guide you through the Atlassian System of Work. Whether you’re about to embark on an Atlassian Cloud migration, need support with tooling optimisation, or think your team would benefit from Atlassian training, our team of highly-skilled and dedicated consultants, trainers and Atlassian champions can be by your side, every step of the way.
Contact us today and book your free consultation with Automation Consultants
Why not talk to us today? We offer a free 30-minute consultation, to give you the opportunity to pick our brains – with no obligation. You can share your challenges and objectives, and we’ll provide initial recommendations. It’s utterly informal and may be the start you need on your Atlassian journey to unlock greater collaboration, connection and value. Simply fill in the form below, and we’ll be in touch!
