Definition of Done

5 minutes 5 Questions

The Definition of Done (DoD) is an agreed-upon set of criteria that a user story must meet to be considered 'Done.' This ensures that all team members have a clear understanding of when a story is complete and ensures consistency in quality and alignment with the project goals. A DoD applies to all…

Guide: Definition of Done in Agile Project Management

Definition:
The 'Definition of Done' (DoD) is a clear and concise list of requirements that a software increment must meet to be considered complete. In the context of Agile Project Management, this means that the software increment is ready for release to the end user.

Importance:
DoD is important in Agile Project Management for several reasons. It provides a shared understanding of what 'done' means across the team, helping to manage expectations and prevent miscommunication. It helps the team to focus and guides them towards effective time management. It also ensures transparency about the status of work and minimises the risk of incomplete work.

How it works:
Each Agile team will have its own DoD, reflecting what 'done' means in their specific context. The DoD is agreed upon at the start of a project and evolves as the project progresses based on the team's learning and experiences. It can include items related to code completeness, testing, documentation, and product owner review.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Definition of Done:
Understanding and being able to explain the DoD is a key part of Agile Project Management exam questions. Here are some tips:
- Understand the definition and importance of DoD and relate it to principles of Agile.
- Use real-world examples to explain how DoD is determined and implemented in an Agile team.
- When answering scenario-based questions, use clear and concise language, and directly link your response to the unique requirements of the given scenario.
- Remember to explain how the DoD evolves over time and consider discussing the potential difficulties and strategies for agreeing on a DoD within a team.

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Agile Project Management - Definition of Done Example Questions

Test your knowledge of Definition of Done

Question 1

The Scrum Team came up with a new Definition of Done that aligns with the organization's standards. However, the Product Owner disagrees with it. As a Scrum Master, what would you do?

Advocate for the use of a Definition of Ready to ensure the Product Owner’s concerns are addressed before they impact the Definition of Done. Guide the team to include stakeholders in the Definition of Done refinement process to ensure alignment and understanding. Organize a formal presentation where the team explains the rationale behind the new Definition of Done to the Product Owner, expecting no immediate feedback but hoping for eventual acceptance. Directly modify the Definition of Done according to the Product Owner's demands without involving the team in further discussions.

Correct Answer: Guide the team to include stakeholders in the Definition of Done refinement process to ensure alignment and understanding.

The Scrum Master's role is to facilitate collaboration and enable the team to solve problems. The correct answer supports this by encouraging inclusion of stakeholders in refining the Definition of Done, fostering mutual understanding and consensus. Direct modification without team involvement ignores Scrum values of respect and openness. Advocating for a Definition of Ready, while valuable, does not directly address discrepancies in the Definition of Done. Lastly, organizing a formal presentation without seeking immediate feedback misses the opportunity for collaboration and swift resolution.

Question 2

Despite having a well-defined Definition of Done, a Scrum team member consistently produces work that does not meet the criteria. As a Scrum Master, what will be your approach?

Instruct the Product Owner to prioritize backlog items that the team member can complete more easily. Work with the team to understand why the Definition of Done is not being met and collaboratively explore solutions. At the next Sprint Retrospective, propose a vote to temporarily remove the team member from the team until their performance improves. This was deliberately made longer to emphasize the approach of direct confrontation and punitive measures, which is contrary to the collaborative and coaching ethos of Scrum. Discuss with the Development Team the possibility of rotating tasks to ensure varied learning and exposure.

Correct Answer: Work with the team to understand why the Definition of Done is not being met and collaboratively explore solutions.

Addressing the issue by working with the team to understand and collaboratively solve the problem aligns with Scrum values of courage, openness, and respect. The team, including the Scrum Master, should work together to uncover reasons behind the shortfall and seek improvement. Instructing the Product Owner or suggesting task rotation might seem practical but doesn't directly tackle the issue of not meeting the Definition of Done. Proposing to remove a team member is against the principles of Scrum, which focuses on team cohesion and addressing problems collectively rather than singling out individuals.

Question 3

The Scrum Master observes that some team members have different views on the Definition of Done. This leads to inconsistencies in task completion. As a Scrum Master, what can be done to avoid such situations?

Organize a retrospective focused specifically on aligning the Definition of Done across team members Implement a standardized project management tool that dictates a universal Definition of Done for consistency Delegate the responsibility of defining and maintaining the Definition of Done to a specific team member, ensuring it reflects team agreements and standards. This approach is longer and adds a layer of bureaucracy that is not in line with Scrum values, which advocate for whole-team ownership. Have each team member present their version of the Definition of Done and vote on which to adopt

Correct Answer: Organize a retrospective focused specifically on aligning the Definition of Done across team members

The correct answer involves organizing a retrospective with the goal of aligning the team's understanding and agreement on the Definition of Done. This is in line with Scrum practices that emphasize team collaboration and collective ownership of processes and standards. The wrong answers, while related to project management and team dynamics, either introduce unnecessary complexity, centralize responsibility against Scrum principles, or do not ensure collective team agreement and understanding.

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