Cross-Functional "Big Rock" Projects
Manage large, cross-functional projects like office moves, rebranding, or tool migrations with coordinated checklists across multiple departments.
Office Move Project
Coordinate a complex office relocation involving multiple departments, each with their own checklist that must complete before the next phase.
Workflow Structure:
Facilities Section
- New location identified and secured
- Lease signed
- Space planning completed
- Construction/renovation completed
→ Blocker unlocks IT section
IT Section
- Network infrastructure installed
- Server room prepared
- Workstations configured
- Phone system set up
→ Blocker unlocks HR section
HR Section
- Employee communications sent
- Moving day schedule shared
- Parking arrangements finalized
- New address updated in systems
→ Blocker unlocks Comms section
Comms Section
- Vendor notifications sent
- Customer communications prepared
- Website updated
- Social media announcement
→ Blocker unlocks Legal section
Legal Section
- Business licenses updated
- Insurance policies updated
- Contracts reviewed
Notify Triggers: Keep all departments informed of progress without status meetings.
🏢 Coordinated Execution: Blockers ensure nothing is forgotten and departments work in the right sequence.
Rebranding Project
Manage a comprehensive rebranding effort across all touchpoints with coordinated checklists.
Workflow Structure:
Brand Strategy Section
- Brand positioning defined
- Brand guidelines created
- Logo designs finalized
- Color palette approved
→ Blocker unlocks Design section
Design Section
- All brand assets created
- Website designs updated
- Marketing materials redesigned
- Product UI updated
→ Blocker unlocks Development section
Development Section
- Website rebranded
- Product UI updated
- Email templates updated
- All digital assets replaced
→ Blocker unlocks Marketing section
Marketing Section
- Launch campaign prepared
- Social media updated
- Press release written
- Customer communications prepared
→ Blocker unlocks Legal section
Legal Section
- Trademark applications filed
- Domain names secured
- Legal review completed
Launch
- Go-live execution
- Post-launch monitoring
- Feedback collection
Tool Migration Project
Coordinate migration from one tool to another across multiple teams with clear dependencies.
Workflow Structure:
Planning Section
- New tool selected
- Migration plan created
- Timeline established
- Data mapping completed
→ Blocker unlocks IT section
IT Section
- Tool installed/configured
- Integrations set up
- Data export scripts prepared
- Data import scripts prepared
→ Blocker unlocks Training section
Training Section
- Training materials created
- Training sessions conducted
- Documentation updated
→ Blocker unlocks Migration section
Migration Section
- Data exported from old tool
- Data validated
- Data imported to new tool
- Verification completed
→ Blocker unlocks Cutover section
Cutover Section
- Old tool access disabled
- New tool access enabled
- Support team briefed
- Post-migration monitoring
Key Benefits for Cross-Functional Projects
- Self-Service Coordination - No one needs to remember to reassign or notify; the ticket literally hands itself off when ready
- Complete Audit Trail - Everything (who completed what and when) lives in one issue
- No More Stale Tickets - Blockers visually show exactly where something is stuck
- One Issue Instead of Ten - Reduces Jira clutter dramatically while keeping full history
- Automatic Notifications - Keep everyone in the loop without status meetings
- Clear Dependencies - Blockers ensure departments work in the right sequence
Best Practices
- Organize large projects by department/team with clear section titles
- Use blockers between sections to ensure proper sequencing and dependencies
- Configure notify triggers to keep all stakeholders informed without status meetings
- Use change assignee triggers to hand off work between departments automatically
- Require attach file items for critical documentation (contracts, plans, approvals)
- Create project templates that can be reused for similar cross-functional initiatives
- Use convert to separate issue for complex sub-projects that need dedicated tracking
- Set up milestone notifications to celebrate progress and keep momentum