Control Work Item Links | Dependency Governance Documentation

Control Work Item Links documentation.

The Control Work Item Links feature defines how work item relationships are governed in Depencency Governance for Jira.

It introduces a structured, rule-based model that allows administrators to control which work item link types are allowed, per space, and per work type, using configurable Link Schemes.

All link creation mechanisms in the application rely on this configuration.

Core Concepts

Control Work Item Links is based on two closely related configuration elements:

• Work Type Link Schemes
• Link Schemes

Together, they determine which work item links are allowed between two work items in a given space.

Work Type Link Schemes

An Work Type Link Scheme defines how Link Schemes are resolved for work types within spaces.

Assignment Model

The relationship between Work Type Link Schemes and spaces follows these rules:

• An Work Type Link Scheme:

  • May be unassigned (not attached to any space)
  • May be assigned to one or more spaces

• A space:

  • May have no Work Type Link Scheme assigned
  • May have only one Work Type Link Scheme assigned at a time

This means that Work Type Link Schemes are reusable, while spaces can reference at most one scheme.

Default Link Scheme Resolution

Each Work Type Link Scheme defines:

• A default Link Scheme, used for all work types that are not explicitly configured
• Optional work-type-specific overrides, where a concrete Link Scheme is assigned to a specific work type

As a result, for any work item in a space:

• If the space has an Work Type Link Scheme assigned:
  • The work item resolves its Link Scheme using that configuration
• If the space has no Work Type Link Scheme assigned:
  • Depencency Governance does not restrict link creation for that space

Effective Link Scheme per Work Item

For a given work item, the effective Link Scheme is resolved as follows:

1. Check whether the space has an Work Type Link Scheme assigned
2. If not assigned → no link restrictions apply
3. If assigned:
   • Use the work-type-specific Link Scheme if configured
   • Otherwise, use the default Link Scheme

Each work item always resolves to at most one Link Scheme.

Impact on Link Validation

When linking two work items:

• The source work item resolves its Link Scheme independently
• The destination work item resolves its Link Scheme independently

For a link to be created:

• The source Link Scheme must allow the link type in the outward direction
• The destination Link Scheme must allow the link type in the inward direction

If either side rejects the link type, the operation is blocked.

Design Rationale

This model allows:

• Reuse of the same Work Type Link Scheme across multiple spaces
• Gradual rollout of link control
• Safe defaults via default Link Schemes
• Fine-grained overrides for specific work types

→ See: Work Type Link Schemes

Link Schemes

A Link Scheme defines which Jira work item link types are allowed.

Each Link Scheme:

• Contains a list of Jira work item link types
• Allows each link type to be enabled or disabled
• Defines rules separately for:
  • Outward links
  • Inward links

Different Link Schemes can have different configurations, allowing fine-grained control depending on work type and space context.

→ See: Link Schemes

How Link Validation Works

When a user attempts to create a link between two work items, Depencency Governance evaluates the operation using the following logic:

1. The system resolves the Link Scheme for the source work item:

   • Based on the space’s Work Type Link Scheme
   • Using either the default Link Scheme or the one assigned to the source work type

2. The system resolves the Link Scheme for the destination work item:

   • Using the same rules for the destination work type and space

3. The selected link type is validated:

   • The outward direction must be allowed by the source work item’s Link Scheme
   • The inward direction must be allowed by the destination work item’s Link Scheme

Only if both Link Schemes accept the link type in the correct direction is the link created.

If either side rejects the link type, the operation is blocked.

Example Scenario

• Space A has an Work Type Link Scheme assigned
• The default Link Scheme allows only Relates to
• Work type Bug is assigned a stricter Link Scheme that allows only Blocks
• Work type Task uses the default Link Scheme

Results:

• Bug → Task using Blocks
  ✔ Allowed (outward allowed by Bug scheme, inward allowed by Task scheme)
• Task → Bug using Blocks
  ✖ Blocked (outward not allowed by Task scheme)
• Bug → Task using Relates to
  ✖ Blocked (not allowed by Bug scheme)

Where Link Control Is Enforced

The Control Work Item Links configuration is enforced consistently in:

• Dependencies Panel
• Link Work Item Action
• Bulk Link Operation

This ensures identical validation regardless of how links are created.

Permissions

Configuring Control Work Item Links requires:

• Jira administrator or space administrator permissions (depending on scope)
• Access to Depencency Governance administration

Users without configuration permissions are still subject to all defined rules.

Related Pages

• Link Schemes
• Work Type Link Schemes