Blocked Columns vs Stalled Work in Project Boards
Explains why using blocked columns for stalled tasks on project boards harms workflow, and suggests better ways to highlight and address blocked work …
TL;DR; Using a blocked column in Azure DevOps causes work to stall and be forgotten, rather than resolved. Instead, use a visible blocked tag and keep items in their active state to maintain focus and encourage action. Track blockages to address root causes and keep work moving.
If your team is using a “Blocked” column in Azure DevOps, you’re probably doing it wrong.
Why? Because work doesn’t flow through blocked—it stops there. And once it’s there, it tends to stay there.
Instead of a blocked column, try this:
This keeps the problem in sight while preventing blocked work from becoming a dumping ground. More importantly, it helps teams take action instead of waiting for work to magically resolve itself.
How does your team flag ‘blocked’ work?
Each classification [Concepts, Categories, & Tags] was assigned using AI-powered semantic analysis and scored across relevance, depth, and alignment. Final decisions? Still human. Always traceable. Hover to see how it applies.
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