When I am planning my sprints can we restrict blocked user stories to not move into the sprint

Question

When story A is linked to story B where A blocks B (B is blocked by A), we are still able to move story B into our sprint even when A is not started or completed. Is there a way to make the scrum board warn or restrict when we try to move B into a scrum when the things blocking it are not done?

Bill Sheboy · Answer

Hello, again.

The color does show in the backlog, and unfortunately the color bars are smaller on the backlog view. If that is not visible enough, you could instead use a quick filter to limit the view of the backlog to just blocked (or not blocked) issues.

For example, if during planning you wanted to focus on non-blocked issues, you could create a quick filter with:

issuelinktype != blocks OR issuelinktype IS EMPTY

Best regards,

Bill

M Vijay Kumar · Answer

Is there a way we can show the same in the backlog, that way we can restrict moving into the sprint.

I am able to see only in the board not in the backlog.

Bill Sheboy · Answer

Hi @M Vijay Kumar

How about card colors to see when something is blocked?  Then team members can discuss/decide how to proceed rather than having the tool just prevent adding a story to a sprint.

You could create a quick filter, as below, and use it to add a card color:

issuelinktype IN ("is blocked by")

Best regards,

Bill