Definition of Ready

5 minutes 5 Questions

The 'Definition of Ready' is a set of agreements that lets the team know that the product backlog item is ready for inclusion in the next sprint. It usually indicates that the user story is clearly defined, it is small enough to be completed within a sprint, test cases have been defined, dependencies are identified and mitigated, and that it aligns with the goals and vision of the project. This assures that the Scrum Team has a shared understanding of what it means for a product backlog item to be ready to be worked on.

Guide: Definition of Ready with Exam Tips

Importance: The Definition of Ready (DoR) is an agreement within the Scrum Team about the specific level a product backlog item should be in before it can be worked on. It ensures that backlog items are adequately defined and prepared in a way that enables smooth work during the sprints.
Definition: The DoR is a checklist of criteria that must be fulfilled before a feature is considered ready to be worked on. This concept is a critical aspect in Product Backlog Management.
How it works: The definition of ready sets a detailed standard for what it means for an item to be ready. This includes having clear user stories, acceptance criteria, estimates etc. This list is agreed upon by all team members and is used to assess whether a product backlog item is ready or not.
Answering exam questions: Understanding and explaining the Definition of Ready in exam may require that you define what it is, its importance in the scrum team, how it works and its components.
Exam Tips: You may need to provide examples of scenarios where DoR is used, explain its impact on the workflow, and may have to critically analyse situations to determine if a product backlog item is ready or not based on DoR criteria. Emphasis should be laid on its role in ensuring workflow consistency and high efficiency.

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Question 1

A new project member has doubts about the definition of ready. How can the team support him?

Ask him to read the project documentation thoroughly. Explain the definition of ready and its significance in the project process. Suggest he researches the topic on his own. Refer him to another colleague. Ignore his concerns as irrelevant. Let him find out through practical experience.

Correct Answer: Explain the definition of ready and its significance in the project process.

The correct approach would be to explain the definition of ready and its importance to a new team member to facilitate their understanding. Directing them elsewhere might cause confusion or gaps in their knowledge.

Question 2

During the sprint, the team discovers the user story's requirements have changed significantly. What should they do to maintain the Definition of Ready?

Complete the user story with the new requirements, regardless of the Definition of Ready. Ignore the changes and continue working on the user story as originally planned. Ask the team to decide on the next steps without involving the Product Owner. Communicate with the Product Owner to adjust the user story's details and acceptance criteria, and revisit the Definition of Ready. Wait for approval from stakeholders before updating the user story. Modify the user story without seeking input from the Product Owner.

Correct Answer: Communicate with the Product Owner to adjust the user story's details and acceptance criteria, and revisit the Definition of Ready.

Adapting to changing requirements is a core aspect of Agile methodologies. Teams should communicate with the Product Owner to ensure alignment and adjust the user story and the Definition of Ready accordingly.

Question 3

As a Scrum Master, you've been asked to review a user story in the Product Backlog. The story appears well-defined, but there are potential dependencies that haven’t been investigated. What should you do to ensure the Definition of Ready is met?

Encourage the team to investigate potential dependencies before considering the story as ready for the sprint. Insist on a comprehensive risk analysis for the entire Product Backlog to identify potential dependencies for all stories, rather than focusing on investigating the specific dependencies of the user story in question. Recommend breaking down the user story into smaller tasks without considering dependencies to make it appear ready. Suggest the Product Owner prioritize the user story higher to ensure its dependencies are resolved quickly.

Correct Answer: Encourage the team to investigate potential dependencies before considering the story as ready for the sprint.

Ensuring that potential dependencies are investigated before a user story is considered ready for the sprint is crucial to meet the Definition of Ready and prevent impediments during the sprint. Suggesting prioritization changes or breaking down the story without examining dependencies does not directly address the issue at hand and may lead to sprint delays. Conducting a comprehensive risk analysis of the entire Product Backlog, although valuable, is a broader approach that may not effectively address immediate dependencies of a specific user story and could delay the sprint planning process unnecessarily.

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