Parallel group
To allow several users/groups to decide in parallel, without a specific order, you can add a parallel group.
Adding a parallel group
Add single steps and parallel groups. Drag & drop steps into a parallel group:
Step types
All types of steps can be added in a parallel group.
How Parallel Step works
Parallel step functionality activates and notifies all designated participants simultaneously. In the approval process, triggering a step alerts all members of the selected Jira group, as well as individual users and those specified by email.
For instance, if parallel steps involve a user, a group, and an email address, they will all receive notifications at once. Once received, participants can access the approval to view the request and make decisions using the approve or reject buttons(or Abstain button, depending on setup). Unlike single steps, all users can decide at the same time, regardless of the order in which they were added.
The decision cannot be altered; it can only be undone by deleting the ongoing approval path and initiating a new one. Every Jira page participant can start or reset the approval process.
Advanced Configuration: Custom Rules and Thresholds
By default, parallel steps require approval from all assigned participants to proceed. However, you can switch the approval mode to Custom rules within the parallel step edit form to define specific passing and failing criteria.
Configurable Thresholds
In Custom rules mode, you can configure the exact number of approvals required for the step to pass, as well as the number of rejections required for it to fail. The parallel step will conclude as soon as either threshold is reached, without waiting for the remaining participants to vote.
Sub-step Status: SKIPPED
If a parallel step concludes early because a configured threshold has been met, any remaining sub-steps that did not record a decision will automatically transition to a terminal SKIPPED status.
Skipped steps are displayed with a gray dash icon and a tooltip explaining the reason.
They are also clearly separated from explicit approvals or rejections in the approval history.
Switch between steps
Once the parallel group is defined, the approval process functions as follows:
An approver can switch between the steps available to him and take actions in order that best fit their preferences.
Switching context to a different available step is done by clicking on the step marker - blue circle outline. Selected step is indicated by a darker blue color of the marker.
Steps where the current user cannot take action will be marked in gray.
User Beata is included in the voting step group, so the user is applied to the parallel step.