How to Calculate ROI in Jira for Better Investment Decisions Using Dynamic Scoring
Return on Investment (ROI) is essential for teams evaluating whether a feature, project, or initiative is worth the cost.
But Jira was never designed for financial metrics until now.
Dynamic Scoring for Jira introduces a dedicated Financial scoring model that lets teams calculate ROI directly in the issue view, turning Jira into a lightweight investment assessment platform.
Why ROI Matters for Modern Product Organizations
ROI is one of the simplest and most universal financial metrics:
ROI = (Value – Cost) ÷ Cost
ROI provides three powerful benefits:
1. Strong business justification
It gives leadership a clear, quantitative view of why a feature deserves investment.
2. Improved capital allocation
Portfolios often have dozens of competing initiatives; ROI highlights which ones bring the biggest return per dollar spent.
3. Clearer decision-making
ROI supports go/no-go decisions, especially for expensive projects.
Why ROI in Jira Is Hard Without a Tool
Teams typically rely on:
- spreadsheets
- slide decks
- rough “effort vs. value” discussions
This leads to scattered documentation and data that quickly becomes outdated.
With Dynamic Scoring, ROI becomes:
- consistent
- visible
- part of every issue
- easy to compare across epics and features
How to Configure ROI in Jira Using Dynamic Scoring
Best Model: Financial
The Financial scoring type includes a built-in ROI formula.
Step-by-Step ROI Configuration
1. Create the Configuration
Name: ROI
2. Select Scoring Type
Choose: Financial
3. Add the required dropdowns
| Field | Purpose | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Value / Benefit | Expected business or customer value | Low / Medium / High |
| Cost / Investment | Cost, effort, or budget | Low / Medium / High |
You can assign real numerical values or proxy scores.
4. Select Formula Preset
Choose the built-in formula:
ROI = (Value – Cost) ÷ Cost
5. Save → Use in Jira Issue View
Instant ROI scoring for every initiative.
How Agile Teams Use ROI in Practice
• Strategic Roadmapping
Helps prioritize high-value long-term projects.
• Leadership alignment
Provides a shared financial language between PMs, Engineering, and executives.
• Portfolio management
Supports multi-product organizations selecting which initiatives to fund.
Beyond ROI
Dynamic Scoring also supports:
- Risk-adjusted ROI
- Weighted decision models
- Risk Matrix scoring
- WSJF and other Lean metrics
- Custom formulas for financial teams
This flexibility makes it useful for both product and strategic leadership.