GitHub for Scrum: Beyond Code Repository

Over the years at Avanti Studio, we’ve guided numerous teams through their Agile transformations. One question consistently emerges: “Can GitHub really replace our project management tools?” The answer isn’t just a simple yes or no—it’s about understanding how to leverage GitHub’s evolving capabilities to create a more integrated, efficient workflow for your team.

The Journey from Repository to Command Center

When most people think of GitHub, they see a code repository. But in our experience implementing Agile practices across various organizations, we’ve discovered that GitHub can become the central nervous system of your development process. The key lies not in trying to replicate Jira or other traditional tools, but in embracing GitHub’s unique approach to project management.

Think about your current workflow. How often do your developers switch between their code repository and project management tools? How often do updates fall through the cracks because they exist in separate systems? These are the real-world challenges we’ve helped teams overcome by consolidating their workflow in GitHub.

Evolution of GitHub Project Management

The platform has come a long way from basic issue tracking. Recently, GitHub has introduced game-changing features that transform how teams can manage their Agile processes. Custom issue types at the organizational level, for instance, allow teams to create structured workflows that match their specific needs. While this feature is still in beta, we’ve already seen how it can streamline project organization and make tracking work more intuitive.

Perhaps even more exciting is the introduction of sub-issues. This highly requested feature (currently in limited access) promises to revolutionize how teams break down and track complex work. Having helped teams work around the limitations of flat issue structures for years, we’re particularly excited about the possibilities this opens up for proper work breakdown structures.

The Real Value of Integration

Let me share a story that illustrates why this matters. We recently worked with a team that was struggling with its development process. They had Jira for project management, GitHub for code, Slack for communication, and various other tools for documentation. Sound familiar? The problem wasn’t any individual tool—they were all excellent at their specific functions—the problem was the gaps between them.

By moving their project management into GitHub, something interesting happened. Not only did they save time on context switching, but the quality of their documentation improved naturally. Why? Because when your issue tracking lives right next to your code, documenting becomes part of the natural flow rather than an extra step.

Understanding the Transition

Moving to GitHub for project management isn’t just about learning new features—it’s about embracing a different philosophy. In our experience, successful transitions happen when teams understand this fundamental shift. Instead of trying to force GitHub to work exactly like their old tools, successful teams adapt their processes to leverage GitHub’s strengths.

The most successful implementations we’ve seen start small. Perhaps you begin with a single team or project, allowing them to explore and adapt the workflow. This approach lets you iron out any wrinkles before rolling out changes more broadly.

The Future of Project Management in GitHub

The recent introduction of custom issue types and sub-issues is just the beginning. Based on our experience with GitHub’s evolution, we anticipate seeing more features that will make project management even more robust. But here’s the critical insight we share with our clients: the value isn’t in the features themselves but in how they enable better integration between planning and execution.

Making the Transition Work for Your Team

Having guided numerous teams through this transition, we’ve learned that success depends more on approach than tools. Here’s what we’ve found works best:

First, understand that this is a change in workflow, not just tools. Your team needs time to adapt and find its rhythm. Start with the basics—issues, projects, and simple automation—before exploring more advanced features.

Second, focus on the benefits unique to GitHub’s integrated approach. The ability to create branches directly from issues, link pull requests to project tasks, and automate status updates based on code changes are the capabilities that truly set GitHub apart.

Finally, remember that different teams will use these tools differently. What works for a small startup might not suit an enterprise team. At Avanti Studio, we’ve helped teams of all sizes find their optimal workflow within GitHub’s framework.

Looking Forward

As GitHub continues to evolve its project management capabilities, we’re excited about the possibilities ahead. The introduction of organization-level issue types and sub-issues is just the beginning. We’re actively experimenting with these features and looking forward to sharing more insights in an upcoming video deep dive.

The future of project management isn’t about having the most features—it’s about having the right integration between planning and execution. GitHub’s direction suggests they understand this fundamental truth, and we’re excited to help teams make the most of these capabilities.

Your Next Steps

If you’re considering moving your project management to GitHub, remember that you’re not just changing tools—you’re improving how your team works together. At Avanti Studio, we’ve helped teams of all sizes make this transition successfully, and we’d be happy to share our expertise with you.

If you want more information we made a video on YouTube on how to get started on managing projects in GitHub and stay tuned for our upcoming video, in which we’ll explore the new GitHub features in detail and show you how to use them effectively in your Agile workflow.