Commonly confused
Epic vs Initiative
An epic is a large chunk of work that breaks down into issues or stories and usually ships over a few cycles. An initiative sits one level up — it groups multiple epics under a single strategic goal or outcome. Epics are about delivery; initiatives are about strategy.
Epic vs Initiative, in short
- An epic is a large chunk of work that breaks down into issues or stories and usually ships over a few cycles. An initiative sits one level up — it groups multiple epics under a single strategic goal or outcome. Epics are about delivery; initiatives are about strategy.
- When to use epic: Use an epic to organize the issues that make up one sizeable, shippable body of work.
- When to use initiative: Use an initiative to roll several epics up to a quarter-level objective leadership tracks.
| Aspect | Epic | Initiative |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | An epic is a large unit of work too big to finish in a single cycle, broken down into smaller related issues that ship incrementally. It groups those child issues under one theme and tracks their combined progress. Epics sit between individual issues and broader projects or initiatives in the planning hierarchy. | An initiative is a large, strategic body of work that spans multiple projects, teams, or cycles toward a single outcome. It sits above projects and issues in the planning hierarchy, grouping related efforts under one goal. Initiatives let leadership track progress on big bets without drowning in individual tickets. |
| When to use it | Use an epic to organize the issues that make up one sizeable, shippable body of work. | Use an initiative to roll several epics up to a quarter-level objective leadership tracks. |
| Full definition | Epic | Initiative |