Teams depend on tools like Jira and Confluence to collaborate, manage projects, and deliver results faster. Simply using Atlassian tools is not enough; proper administration is critical for success. A well-managed Atlassian environment ensures smooth workflows,...
Michael Roberts
Jira Product Discovery vs. Productboard: Which Tool Drives Better Product Alignment?
When product strategy gets lost between user feedback, roadmaps, and delivery, teams slip into “feature shuffle” mode. The right product tool should create a single line of sight from customer signals to prioritization to what engineering is actually shipping. Two...
Fast Answers, Fewer Meetings: Building a Smart Knowledge Culture
If your day feels like a relay race between status calls and Slack pings, you’re not alone. Most teams still default to “let’s meet” when they can’t find an answer quickly. However, the cost of this is real. Slow decisions, fragmented knowledge, and “do-overs”...
Atlassian Data Center End of Life: Why Now Is the Time to Prepare for Cloud Migration
Atlassian has officially announced the end of life for its Data Center (on-premise) products, including Jira Software, Confluence, and Jira Service Management (JSM), effective March 28, 2029. For many organizations, this is a pivotal moment that will require...
Ditching Adobe Workfront for Agile, Scalable Project Management in Jira
When it comes to project management, organizations often face a tough choice: stick with legacy, specialized tools like Adobe Workfront, or transition to agile, enterprise-ready solutions like Atlassian Jira. While Workfront has carved a niche in marketing and...
Outgrowing monday.com? Why Enterprises Are Making the Move to Jira
Monday.com has gained popularity as a versatile collaborative work management platform. It’s a great fit for small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) that need straightforward tools to manage projects and team collaboration. However, as organizations grow, they often...
Why Teams Are Replacing HP ALM with Jira
For years, HP Application Lifecycle Management (formerly known as Quality Center) was a go-to solution for requirements, testing, and defect management. However, with product transitions and support timelines expiring, many organizations are reevaluating their...
What You Need to Know About the Atlassian Price Increases Coming October 2025
Today, Atlassian has announced upcoming pricing updates effective October 15, 2025. These changes impact new purchases, renewals, and upgrades across Jira, Confluence, Jira Service Management, and other Atlassian Cloud products. The price adjustments reflect...
Why Configuration Manager for Jira Is a Must-Have for Every Admin
Managing complex Jira environments can feel like defusing a bomb—one misstep and you could blow up an entire workflow, break a permission scheme, or worse—lose data. Thankfully, Configuration Manager for Jira (CMJ) by Appfire changes the game. Designed for admins...
SPK and Associates Achieves GitLab Professional Services Partner Status
Our team is thrilled to announce that we have been recognized as a GitLab Professional Services Partner. This esteemed recognition highlights our commitment to delivering the best outcomes for our clients when it comes to securing their software supply chain. This...
Jira Admin vs. Consultant vs. Architect: Who Does What and When Do You Need Each?
At SPK and Associates, we regularly help companies get clarity around their Atlassian investment. One common area of confusion is understanding the difference between a Jira Administrator, a Jira Consultant (or Expert), and a Jira Architect. These roles aren’t...
Uniting Teams Across Your Organization with the Atlassian System of Work
Aligning cross-functional teams is more critical than ever for modern organizations. Miscommunication, siloed information, and disconnected tools often stand in the way of productivity and progress. Atlassian, a leader in team collaboration, has developed a...