Blocking Issues
When a team member cannot move forward on a backlog item or defect due to an issue, a blocking issue can be created. Blocking issues define the details and impact of a blockage and provide a resolution path, if known. Blocking issues are visible across all grids, board views, and page views, so all team members stay up to date on the status of the blockage as it progresses to resolution.
Who Creates Blocking Issues
- Team Members: Create blocking issues when encountering impediments that completely prevent progress on their assigned work.
- Scrum Masters: Create blocking issues during daily standups or sprint tracking when team members report blockers.
- Product Owners: Create blocking issues for portfolio items or high-priority backlog items affected by impediments.
- Project Managers: Assign existing issues as blockers across multiple work items or projects.
Permission Requirement
To create blocking issues, you must have Edit access to the work items you want to block (backlog items, defects, portfolio items, or test sets). To assign existing issues as blockers, you must have Edit access to both the issue and the affected work items. Blocking issues create red banners on affected items visible to all team members with Read access.
Create a New Blocking Issue on a Backlog Item
To create a blocking issue:
- Click the hamburger menu
> Teams > Sprint Tracking > Taskboard. - Click on the drop-down menu on the backlog item you want to block, and then select Block > With New Issue.
- In the Add New Blocking window, enter the required information and click Save. A red banner will display across the affected backlog item and a unique ID (beginning with "B") will be assigned. This backlog item and all dependencies are affected and are visible in all areas of the application.
Assign an Existing Issue as a Blocking Issue
From the Issues grid, you can assign an existing issue as a blocking issue, and assign it to multiple system assets (portfolio items, backlog items, defects, and test sets).
To assign an existing issue as a blocker:
- Click the hamburger menu > Product > Input > Issues.
- Click the title or ID of the issue you want to define as the blocking issue.
- On the Issues Detail page, click Show Relationships. A new page opens allowing you to choose the system asset on which to place the blocking issue.
- Click Assign to the right of the system asset type you want to block (choices are: Portfolio Items or Backlog Items or Defects or Test Sets Blocked by This Issue and Backlog Items or Defects to Resolve This Issue). A pop-up grid containing all project assets of the selected type opens.
- Click Add for each asset you want to block with this issue. To remove the block from the asset, click Remove.
Assign a Blocking Issue to a Portfolio Item
You can also assign blocking issues to portfolio items using the Portfolio Tree.
Troubleshooting
Why can't I create a blocking issue on my backlog item from the taskboard?
You must have Edit access to the backlog item you want to block. Verify your permissions with your administrator. If the backlog item is in a different project, ensure you have Edit access to that project. Some work item states may restrict blocking.
Why doesn't the red banner appear on my blocked work item?
Verify that the blocking issue was successfully created and assigned. Check that you're viewing the correct work item and that filters aren't hiding blocked items. Red banners appear on blocked items in all views once the blocking relationship is established.
Why can't I assign an existing issue as a blocker to multiple work items?
You must have Edit access to all work items you want to block. From the Issue Details page, click Show Relationships to assign the issue to multiple portfolio items, backlog items, defects, or test sets. Use the Assign button for each asset type you want to block.
Why did removing a blocking issue not remove the red banner?
If multiple blocking issues affect the same work item, the red banner remains until all blocks are removed. Verify that all blocking issues have been resolved or removed. Refresh your browser if the banner persists after removing all blocks.