← All templates

Jira description preset

Spike

Timeboxed research to reduce uncertainty. Answer one question, document findings.

Issue types:
Spike, Story, Task
Tags:
scrum, xp, research

The full description body

Copy it, pick the preset in SuperTemplates, and fill the {{variable}} pills — the body drops into any issue's description.

## Spike: [Question to answer]

## Context

[Why is this investigation needed? What uncertainty exists?]

## Questions

1. [Primary question — spikes should answer ONE clear question]

## Timebox

[Maximum time allocated: e.g., 2 days or 5 story points]

## Approach

- [Investigation step 1]
- [Prototype or POC plan]

## Done When

- [ ] Questions answered with evidence
- [ ] Findings documented in this ticket
- [ ] Recommendation made (build / buy / defer / abandon)

## Findings

[To be filled during or after spike]

## Recommendation

[To be filled after spike: what should the team do next?]

How to use this template in Jira

  1. Install SuperTemplates from the Atlassian Marketplace (free 14-day trial) and open the editor in any Jira project.
  2. Open the description presets panel, choose this preset, and fill the variables it exposes — or apply it to every row in a batch.
  3. Preview the whole batch and create everything in Jira in one click. Nothing is created until you confirm.
Try it free on the Atlassian MarketplaceHow to apply a description preset

Related templates

  • User Story — The universal agile story format. Captures who needs what and why, with testable acceptance criteria.
  • Epic — Large initiatives that span multiple sprints. Business problem, metrics, scope boundaries.
  • Technical Debt — Track and prioritize debt with business impact. Makes invisible cost visible.